Pecorino or Pecorino romano is a popular variety of cheese made with sheep’s milk. Pecorino definition: noun sheep or Pecorino cheese Pronunciation: Failing that, just use the plural form and avoid using the singular form. It’s round, like an o.Īlternatively, try learning the plural, fichi, and work backwards to its singular masculine form since – chi is a plural masculine ending. This helps you recall the new word or phrase because you simply think of what you already know well.įor example, to help you remember to say fico with an -o ending, your memory hook could be to think of the shape of a fig. Whenever you need to remember something, especially as important as this, you need to create a memory hook.Ī memory hook is when you find a link between the word or phrase you want to learn with something you already know. For example, if something is complicated or difficult, you can say “mica pizza e fichi!” or when something is beautiful/interesting/exciting, you say “mica pizza e fichi!” or when something is out of the ordinary. One of my favourite Roman expressions actually uses the plural: mica pizza e fichi, literally, it’s not pizza and figs! This versatile expression can be used in a variety of situations. Yup, whether you used the – c– or the – g– variation, you’ve just said the most vulgar and derogatory term used to describe a part of the female anatomy.Ĭonfusingly, fico and figo can also mean trendy, hip, cool, or a cool guy. In which case, you’ve just said perhaps the most offensive word around, the c-word. Unless of course you accidentally change it’s masculine – o ending with a female -a. What could be more harmless than the fig? Nothing. Want to hear the pronunciation? Watch the video!įico definition: noun fig (or fig tree) Pronunciation: It’s the best way to learn! But here are 15 ways mispronounced Italian words can get you into real trouble, plus tips on how to avoid it! We all make mistakes when learning Italian. If you accidentally confuse any of the vowels, you might end up dying of imbarazzo (embarrassment). Italian is famous for its beautifully melodic words full of vowels, ma stai attento! (but, be careful!). Wine is used as an example but, just like in the case of many other proverbs, its meaning extends to a more general message: “good” and quality things or people do not need to be highlighted because their value speaks for itself.21.4K It’s fair to say that I’ve embarrassed myself at least 15 times while speaking Italian and it’s mostly thanks to these seemingly harmless words. Winemakers would then display a ‘frasca, ’a leafy bundle of branches, on the road to inform the passersby that it was possible to buy wine in that farm.īack to our proverb, its meaning is that a good wine, in order to attract people's attention, doesn’t need to be promoted: its quality is just enough. Back in the old days, when harvest time was approaching, some farmers needed to dispose of the wine surplus from the previous year and used to request local authorities the permission to sell it directly to the consumers at reduced prices. This is perhaps the least known of all the Italian proverbs that we have included in our selection and also the least understandable at first glance, but its origin is linked to an old tradition. Literal translation: “ Good wine needs no leafy branch”Ĭorresponding proverb: “ Actions speak louder than words ”
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