La Cucina … mangiamo!
Words connected with la cucina (kitchen, cooking)
mangiare |
to eat |
avere fame |
to be hungry |
servire |
to serve |
prendere |
to take (used also to have something to eat or drink). |
Prendi una coca cola? |
Would you like (take) a Coke? Do you want a Coke? |
Prendi un piatto di pasta? |
Will you have a pasta dish? |
I Pazzi ci hanno servito una bella cena |
the Pazzis served us (treated us to) a nice dinner. |
il piatto |
plate, dish |
lavare i piatti |
wash the dishes |
aprire |
to open |
Puoi aprire la bottiglia di vino? |
Can you open the wine bottle? |
coprire |
to cover |
aprire |
to cover |
Ho coperto la pentola |
I covered the pot. |
l'elettrodomestico |
the appliance |
la cucina a gas |
the gas stove |
la cucina elettrica |
the electric stove |
il forno |
the oven |
In questa casa abbiamo una cucina a gas. |
In this house we have a gas stove. |
February 2011
Betsy Mignani
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Carnevale
Carnevale (Carnival) e' una festa allegra e divertente. It is
celebrated in the period leading up to martedì grasso (fat Tuesday).
The next day is of course mercoledì delle cenere (Ash Wednesday).
For Carnevale (Carnival) which is celebrated all over Italy but most
famously in Venezia, you may want a maschera (mask) and a costume
(a costume). Some traditional figures are Arlecchino (Harlequin),
with his suit of molti colori (many colors), Pulcinella, with the long camicia
bianca (white shirt), and many figures from the Italian "Commedia dell'Arte."
In some cities, la gente (people) va per le strade e le piazze (go out in the
streets and piazzas) divertendosi (having fun). They throw coriandoli
(confetti) and stelle filanti (streamers).
The classici dolci di Carnevale (traditional treats) are fried dough sprinkled
with confectioner's sugar, named differently depending on what region you are
in. While chiacchiere is common they are also called grostoli, sfrappole,
galani, frappe (in Rome), bugie, cenci, stracci, crostoli, rosacatarre, zonzelle,
pampuglie, lattughe, lasagne. Others, fritelli tondi (round fried balls),
are called tortelli in Milano and central Italy, castagnole in Emilia Romagna and
in Friuli Venezia Giulia, while in Venezia, frìtole. How do you call
them? Buon appetito!
March 2011
Betsy Mignani
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Quanto?
We saw a few months ago how to say quando (when).
Now let's look at quanto (how much).
Abbastanza - enough, sufficiently
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Ho dormito abbastanza ieri. I slept enough yesterday.
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Circa - about, approximately
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Sono circa le due. It's about two o'clock.
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Così - so
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Lei è così stanca She is so tired.
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Meno - less |
Il barbiere ha lavorato meno ieri. The barber worked less yesterday. |
Molto - quite, very, very much
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La ragazza canta molto bene. The girl sings very well.
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Più - more |
Parla più piano per favore. Speak more slowly please. |
Poco - little |
Mi piace poco fare le spese. I don't like shopping very much. (I like it little). |
Quasi - almost, nearly |
È quasi ora di andare a casa. It's almost time to go home. |
Solo - only |
Vorrei solo finire questo libro. I only want to finish this book. |
Troppo - too, too much |
Ho mangiato troppo. I ate too much. |
Molto, poco, solo and troppo are also used as adjectives and then the endings have to agree with the nouns they modify.
Ho letto pochi libri durante le feste. - I read few books during the holidays.
Ci sono molte macchine sulla strada. - There are many cars on the road.
C'è troppa maggiorana nella zuppa. - There's too much marjoram in the soup.
December 2010
Betsy Mignani
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Al telefono - On the phone
Pronto (chi parla?)
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Hello (who is this?)
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Buon giorno, sono Francesco.
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Good day, this is Francesco.
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Vorrei parlare con Laura.
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I would like to speak to Laura. |
Non c'è, è appena uscita. |
She's not here, she just left. |
Vuole che le riferisco un messaggio? |
Would you like me to take a message? |
Grazie, telefono più tardi. |
Thanks, I'll call later. |
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telefonare, fare una telefonata |
to call, make a call |
fare un numero |
to dial a number |
rispondere (al telefono) |
to answer (the phone) |
suonare, squillare |
to ring |
il cellulare, il telefonino |
the cell phone |
riattaccare |
to hang up |
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Qual è il prefisso per Roma? |
What's the area code for Rome? |
La linea è occupata. |
The line is busy. |
La bolletta telefonica |
The telephone bill. |
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January 2011
Carlo Mignani
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I Cinque Sensi e i Gusti
I SENSI
vista - sight
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verb - vedere
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Vedo l'albero.
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udito -hearing
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verb - sentire
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Sento la musica.
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tatto - touch
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verb - toccare
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Tocco la mano.
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odorato - smell
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verb - sentire l'odore di
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Sento l'odore del fiore.
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gusto - taste
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verb - sentire il sapore di
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Sento il sapore del gelato.
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I SAPORI
dolce - sweet
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Il sapore della pesca è dolce.
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amaro - bitter
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Il sapore dell'indivia è amaro.
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salato - salty
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il sapore delle acciughe è salato.
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agro - sour
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il sapore del limone è agro.
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piccante - spicy
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il sapore del peperoncino è piccante.
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Nota:
l'indivia si mangia, meglio evitare l'invidia!
You eat endive, but better avoid envy!
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September 2010
Carlo Mignani
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Quando?
Dimmi quando, quando, quando ...
When you want to say when something happens, use these expressions ...........
Adesso
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now
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Dopo
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later
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Più tardi
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later
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Prima
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before, earlier (also "first")
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Poi
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then, after
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Oggi
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today
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Stamattina
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this morning (contraction of "questa mattina")
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Stasera
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this evening (contraction of "questa sera")
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Ieri
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yesterday
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Ieri mattina
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yesterday morning
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Ieri sera
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yesterday evening
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Ieri notte
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yesterday night (last night)
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Domani
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tomorrow
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Domani mattina
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tomorrow morning
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Domani sera
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tomorrow evening
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A colazione
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at breakfast
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A pranzo
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at lunch
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A cena
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at supper, dinner
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La settimana prossima
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next week
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L'anno prossimo
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next year
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La settimana scorsa
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last week
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L'anno scorso
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last year
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October 2010
Betsy Mignani
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La Strada del Vino (the wine road, exploring wine country)
Just about every Italian region has a varied and centuries-old
tradizione vinicola (wine tradition). In the
strada del vino dell'Alto Adige (Alto Adige wine
road) the Italian world intersects with the German-speaking world.
In Toscana (Tuscany), wine production
dates from the tempo degli Etruschi (time of
the Etruscans). Here there are several different DOC
(Denominazione di Origine Controllata) wine
paths. La strada del vino della Maremma allows one to
degustare i sapori (taste the flavors) and to
appreciate the tradizioni locali (local traditions)
and ancient historical reality of this region.
In Sicilia (Sicily) la strada del vino della Val
di Noto comprises around 30 wineries among which the Nero d'Avola,
Moscato and Moscato di Siracusa. Le delizie
vinicole (the wine delights) join with the bellezze
naturali (natural beauties) and the testimonianze
archeologiche (archeological evidence) in this area of southeast Sicily,
once among the richest and most powerful parts of Magna Graecia
July 2010
Carlo Mignani
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Some more useful idioms and definitions
colpa - blame, fault
- per colpa di - because of
- Non andiamo in ferie per colpa della crisi.
We are not going on vacation because of the crisis.
- È colpa mia. It's my fault
colpo - blow, shot
- Ho sentito un colpo di pistola. I heard a pistol shot.
- Lui ha preso un colpo alla testa. He got a blow to his head.
di colpo - suddenly
- Di colpo mi sono ricordato che avevo un
appuntamento. Suddenly I remembered I had an appointment.
- colpo di telefono -
telephone call
- Le ho fatto un colpo di telefono prima di venire. I called her before coming.
- a colpo d'occhio - at a glance
- Ho visto l'errore a colpo d'occhio. I saw the error at a glance.
ballo - dance
- essere in ballo - to be at stake
- In questa iniziativa c'è in ballo il futuro della mia impresa. In this undertaking the future of my company is at stake.
- tirare in ballo - to bring up something
- Non tirare in ballo di nuovo quella questione. Don't bring up that matter again.
entrare - come in, enter
- entrare in carica - enter office
- Quando lei è entrata in carica
ha fatto un sacco di promesse. When she came into
office she made a lot of promises.
- entrare in possesso - come into possession
- Lucia è entrata in possesso
della macchina nuova ieri. Lucia came into possession of the
new car yesterday.
- entrare in vigore - to take effect (law)
- La nuova legge e' entrata in
vigore a luglio. The new law took effect in July.
August 2010
Carlo Mignani
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Le Chiese
Sacred Christian buildings are all churches, but there are different names.
When traveling in Italy it may help you to know them.
Chiesa (church), besides indicating the
community of the faithful, also means every edifice used for prayer and
religious rites.
Basilica comes from the original buildings
that were dedicated to justice or commerce in ancient times. In
Rome, the basiliche maggiori are the 4 principal
churches: San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro and
San Paolo fuori le Mura (outside the walls).
It is usually characterized by a central navata
(nave), side aisles and a semicircular apse.
Cattedrale is the principal church of the
diocese where is found the cattedra (chair) of
the vescovo (bishop).
Duomo is the seat of the local church
community's founders. If it coincides with the bishop's seat it is a
"Duomo cattedrale." The best known
are the Duomo di Firenze and the
Duomo di Milano.
Battistero is a building, annexed to a church,
specifically for baptisms. An example is the famous Battistero di San
Giovanni next to the Duomo in Florence.
Monastero (monastery) is a microcosm of
buildings, scuole (schools),
orti (orchards), and
biblioteche (libraries) where a community of
monaci (monks) or
monache (nuns) lives.
Abbazia (abbey) is a group of buildings
headed by an abate (abbot), independent from
the local bishop's jurisdiction. In the Middle Ages, they were subjects
of kings, now the Pope nominates them.
Parrocchia (parish church) is the church
of a local community which has a priest assigned by a bishop.
March 2010
Betsy Mignani
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Caravaggio, the tormented artist
Quando non c'è energia, non c'è colore, non
c'è forma, non c'è vita.
...... Caravaggio
When there is no energy, there is no color, there is no form, there is no life.
Born in Milan in 1571, died in 1610, active in Rome, Naples, Malta and Sicily,
he is one of the most celebrati pittori nel mondo
(celebrated painters in the world) together with Leonardo, Michelangelo,
Velasquez and Rembrandt. For his carattere
aggressivo (mercurial character) he was responsible for many crimes,
including assaults, percosse (beatings),
ferite (woundings), possession of illegal
arms and finally omicidio (murder).
His potenti amici (powerful friends) could
not protect him anymore and he had to fuggire
da (flee) Rome.
Always known by the art experts, he was ignored by the
grosso pubblico (public at large) until a very
successful esibizione (exhibition) in the early
1950's in Milan.
The importance of Caravaggio consists in
dipingere (depicting) real, common people,
down to the last wrinkle, in contrast to the idealized prevailing Mannerism
of the time. Caravaggio è il primo artista moderno
(is the first modern artist).
Now 400 years dopo la sua morte (after his
death) capiamo e apprezziamo (we understand
and appreciate) him because parla la nostra lingua
(he speaks our language), depicts our own obsessions about sex, death, the
yearning for independence and freedom, the corruption of power, the decay
of the flesh.
Una mostra (an exhibit) is now being held at
the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome to celebrate the 400 years since his
death, with quadri (paintings) from the
più importanti musei del mondo (most
important museums of the world).
May 2010
Carlo Mignani
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Che tempo fa?
(What's the weather?)
Fa freddo. |
It's cold. |
Fa caldo. |
It's hot. |
Fa bel tempo. |
It's nice weather. |
È nuvoloso. |
It's cloudy. |
C'è vento. |
There's wind. |
C'è nebbia. |
There is fog. |
Nevica. |
It's snowing. |
Ha nevicato il 19 dicembre. |
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C'è pioggia. |
There is rain. |
Piove spesso a primavera. |
It rains often in spring. |
C'è una tempesta. |
There is a storm. |
Era una notte buia e tempestosa. |
It was a dark and stormy night. |
C'è umidità. |
It's humid. |
È umido a Washington durante l'estate. |
It's humid in Washington in summer. |
È gelato. |
It's freezing. (yes, it's the same word, only here it's an adjective) |
Non mangio gelato quando è gelato. |
I don't eat ice cream when it's freezing. |
January 2010
Carlo Mignani |
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Idioms
a voce - in person
Preferisco parlartene a voce.
I prefer talking to you about it in person.
avere voce in capitolo - to have a say in the matter
Non fidarti delle sue promesse; non ha nessun voce in capitolo.
Don't believe his promises; he has no say in the matter.
chiedere a gran voce - to ask all together
Hanno chiesto a gran voce di aggiornare la seduta.
They all asked together to adjourn the meeting.
correre voce - to be rumored
Corre voce che tu sia per sposarti.
It's rumored that you are about to be married.
fare la voce grossa - to act tough
Fa la voce grossa ma non è arrabiato sul serio.
He acts tough but he's not really angry.
sottovoce - in a low voice
Parliamo sottovoce perché la mamma sta dormendo.
Let's talk in a low voice because mother is sleeping.
spargere la voce - to spread the rumor
Hanno sparso la voce che stava per essere arrestato.
They spread the rumor that he was about to be arrested.
February 2010
Carlo Mignani
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When the runways (le piste) were
made of water (acqua)
The first civil aviation flights (voli civili) were
inaugurated in Italy in 1926 along the route (lungo la rotta)
Trieste - Torino, in northern Italy.
Its characteristic was that no airport was involved; in fact the flight did not
take place on airplanes, but on seaplanes (idrovolanti).
The line was not direct, stopping (fermandosi) at
Pavia, and Venezia and utilizing the rivers (utilizzando i fiumi)
Po and Ticino.
The fascist regime (il regime fascista) was in
favor of this type of transportation (tipo di trasporto)
and tried to extend it to the rest of Italy (estenderlo al resto
dell'Italia). The main advantage was the maintenance cost
(il costo di manutenzione), much lower than
traditional airports (molto più basso di un aeroporto
tradizionale). The technological developments after
WWII (lo sviluppo tecnologico dopo la Seconda Guerra
Mondiale) and the need to accommodate an ever-increasing number
of people (un numero sempre maggiore di gente)
made this form of transportation obsolete (ha reso questa
forma di trasporto obsoleta).
Today the only active seadrome (l'unico idroscalo
attivo) in Italy is at Como.
November 2009
Carlo Mignani
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HOLIDAY CARD GAMES
(Giochi con le carte per le feste)
The traditional card games (giochi con le carte)
of Briscola, Tressette, Scopa, etc. and those played during the Christmas
holidays (le feste di Natale) all over Italy are two
different things. To play Briscola, Tressette or Scopa, you must have
2 or 4 players (giocatori). These games
are rather serious (piuttosto seri); there is not
much variation (variazione) and traditionally are
played only by men who, in a more or less dogged style, (
stile accanito) can play them for many hours. In today's Italy
they are often considered old fashioned.
The traditional card games of the Christmas holidays such as Sette e Mezzo,
Bestia, Mercante in Fiera, Tombola etc., are more varied (
hanno una maggiore varietà) and everybody, men, women and kids
(uomini, donne e ragazzi) can play them and
have fun. Often one bets money (scommette
soldi) in moderation, and the outcome is immediate. They are
not traditionally dominated by men and you do not have to have 2 or 4 people to
play them. That means they are more appropriate (
appropriati) during the holidays when one plays with family and friends,
when the number of people is not easily predictable and can even change by
the minute. In these games, a gathering (
una tavolata) of 5 to 9 people is ideal.
Recently a new card game is spreading across the peninsula "Buracco".
Do you know how to play it?
December 2009
Carlo Mignani
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Italian Regions - the North West
The north west of Italy includes the Valle d'Aosta,
Piemonte, Lombardia and Liguria
regions. It features very distinct natural panoramas. The mountains
(le montagne) of the
Alpi that reach 4800 meters (over 15700 feet), the plain
(la pianura) in the valley of the Po, and
the undulating and hilly coast (la costa)
that meets the Mediterranean.
It is an area rich with history. During the Middle Ages
(Medioevo) it was the center of ferment of
towns such as Legnano, toward independence (indipendenza)
from the emperor (imperatore).
The renaissance saw the development of the
Signorie, or small independent states like
the Gran Ducato of the Sforza in Milan.
Here industry grew for the first time in Italy at the end of the 1800's
(Ottocento) and gave rise to the
"miracolo italiano" after WWII, especially in
the industrial triangle (triangolo industriale)
of Milano - Torino - Genova.
Torino was the capital of the Regno di Savoia,
from which came the push for the unification of Italy. Torino was the
first capital of Italy and, with the Fiat, the capital of the automobile.
Today with the world crisis (crisi) of the
automobile, the Piemonte region is evolving in a post industrial sense
with "slow food."
Lombardia continues to be the region with the chief industrial production
(produzione industriale) of Italy and one
of the greatest in Europe. Milano has transformed into the main
Italian financial and commercial (finanziaria e
commerciale) city.
Liguria with the port of Genova has been the traditional "door"
(porta) to Milano and Torino, exporting
(esportando) products to the rest of the
world. After a period of crisis, Genova has recovered with the
business of importing (importando) from
Asia, Africa and South America toward Italy and Europe.
August 2009
Carlo Mignani
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FALSE FRIENDS
Many Italian words look like English words and have similar meanings.
Technically called "cognates," this is true especially where the English and
Italian share a root from Latin.
For example, dizionario is dictionary,
museo is museum,
stazione, station,
studiare, to study, etc.
The appearance can trip you up when the meanings are
quite different. Some examples:
camera - room, not a photographic tool (macchina fotografica)
libreria - bookstore, not a library (biblioteca)
magazzino - warehouse, not magazine (rivista)
parente - relative in general, not Mom and Pop (genitori)
confrontare - to compare, not to confront (affrontare)
tastare - to touch, not to taste (assaggiare)
argomento - topic, not argument (disputa)
fabbrica - factory, not fabric (tessuto)
sale - salt, not a sale. (vendita, svendita, saldo)
These are called "false friends" or falsi amici.
As the expression goes, "Fidarsi è buono, non fidarsi è meglio." (To trust is good, to be skeptical is better!)
June 2009
Betsy Mignani
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Cani Randagi (Wild Dogs)
In Italy there are about one million wild dogs, (cani
randagi) abandoned by man, that survive in the wilderness, form
packs (branchi), breed with wolves
(lupi) and are a menace
(minaccia) to man.
They are concentrated especially in the central and southern Apennines
where the Italians did not find it convenient to cultivate the land anymore.
In these hills and mountains, wild game multiplied, man fell back to a
more fertile altitude and the wild dogs flourished.
In the 70's about 100,000 cani randagi a
year were killed (mostly shot by farmers
(contadini)). Today the law
prohibits eliminating (l'eliminazione)
randagi, so they multiply and generation
after generation (generazione) they
become wilder.
Especially worrisome is the crossbreeding of
randagi and
lupi for the conservation of the purity
of the wolf, recently reintroduced in several areas in Italy, but also for
the danger that they can pose to weekenders and travelers.
You see what appears to be a pack of dogs, but they could have all the
characteristics and the DNA of wolves.
While the pounds (canili comunali) cannot
hold all these dogs, the problem persists since the campaign of
sterilization (sterilizzazione) and
education (educazione), convincing
dog owners (padroni) not to abandon
their dogs, takes time.
July 2009
Carlo Mignani
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The Ides of March and the Roman calendar
The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martiae) is the name of the date 15 March in the Roman calendar.
The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and
the 13th day of the other months. In Roman times, the Ides of March was a festive day
dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term
Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated, in 44 BC.
The ides is thought to have originally been the day of the full moon. The Romans considered this
an auspicious day in their calendar. The word ides comes from idus, Latin, meaning "half division"
(of a month). Other designations were kalends, or the first day of the month, thought to have been
the day of the new moon, and nones, for the half moon, occurring on the 5th or 7th day of the month.
Originally the calendar began with March, named for the god of war, Mars. Counting forward from there,
September was the seventh month (septem = 7), October was the eighth (octo = 8), and so on.
But as there were only 10 months, the days ran out before the year was over, so in 712 BC
January and February were added to the end of the calendar, filling in the winter when there was no
work in the fields. Since this still only came to 355 days, Julius Caesar, on the advice of the
astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria, set about rectifying the discrepancy. In 45 BC the new
calendar came into force with 12 months and a leap day every 4 years in February. This was called
the Julian calendar and was used for centuries. After Caesar's death Quinctilis, which had been the
fifth month, was renamed Julius and later Sextilis renamed Augustus in honor of Augustus.
A minor change by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 removed February 29 from years ending in hundreds,
except when divisible by 400; this is the Gregorian calendar still in use today.
March 2009
Betsy Mignani
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ITALIAN EXPRESSIONS
Many picturesque Italian expressions use the word "occhio" which means "eye".
a occhio - approximately, by eye
- Ho misurato lo spazio a occhio.
I measured the space by eye.
a perdita d'occhio - as far as the eye can see.
- Il panorama si estendeva a perdita d'occhio
The view stretched as far as the eye can see.
a quattr'occhi - privately (at four eyes)
- Vorrei parlare con lui a quattr'occhi riguardo a quel problema.
I would like to talk with him privately about that problem.
a vista d'occhio - before one's very eyes (very fast)
- Il ragazzo è cresciuto a vista d'occhio.
The boy grew right before my eyes.
ad occhi chiusi - with one's eyes closed, very easily
- Lei può risolvere i cruciverba ad occhi chiusi.
She can do crossword puzzles with her eyes closed.
chiudere un occhio - turn a blind eye, close an eye
- Questa volta il vigile ha chiuso un occhio e non ti ha dato una multa.
This time the policeman turned a blind eye and didn't give you a ticket.
costare un occhio della testa - to cost a fortune (cost an eye of the head)
- Quella villa è costata un occhio della testa.
That house cost a fortune.
April 2009
Carlo Mignani
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Colorful Expressions
Italians use many colorful expressions. Here are some examples.
Quattro gatti - only a few people (literally four cats)
- Doveva essere una riunione importante, ma c'erano solo quattro gatti.
It should have been an important meeting by there were only a few people.
- Il Canada è un paese grande, ma ci abitano quattro gatti.
Canada is a large country, but few people live there.
Farsi in Quattro - To knock oneself out (literally to make oneself four), etc.
- Si è fatta in quattro per aiutarti.
She knocked herself out to help you.
In bocca al lupo - Good luck (in the mouth of the wolf)
- In bocca al lupo per l'esame domani.
Good luck on your test tomorrow.
Che macello! - What a mess! (macello = slaughter house)
Non avere peli sulla lingua - not to mince words (to not have hair on the tongue).
- Non ha peli sulla lingua e dice sempre quello ch pensa.
He does not mince words and he always says what he thinks.
Pappa e ciccia - hand in glove, in agreement (mush and meat)
- Lui e il suo compagno di banco sono pappa e ciccia.
He and his schoolmate are hand in glove.
Ogni morte di Papa - very rarely (each death of a Pope)
- Vai a trovare tua zia? Si' ogni morte di papa.
Do you go to visit your aunt? Yes, rarely.
A quattro occhi - privately (at four eyes)
- Non dirgli niente, vorrei prima parlarne con lui a quattro occhi.
Don't tell him anything, I want to talk to him about it privately.
January 2009
Carlo Mignani
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Amore
When we say: "I love tennis. I love my wife. I love my parents. I love pasta", do we mean the same thing?
The word "love" in English is overused, but in Italian you have to be more specific.
The word amore (love) is mainly used for passion and infatuation,
being "in love", or the expression of romantic love in literature, melodramas, etc.
Lui era il suo primo amore. He was her first love.
Si sono amati appassionatamente per due anni.
They loved each other passionately for two years.
I due fidanzati sono proprio innamorati.
The two fiances are really in love.
Affection for someone is best expressed with "volere bene"
Si sono voluti bene per 60 anni, poi lui è morto.
They loved each other for 60 years, then he died.
Certo che voglio bene a mia madre.
Of course I love my mother.
Affection for a thing, however is piacere or adorare.
Mi piace il tennis. I love tennis.
Adoro i quadri di Van Gogh. I love Van Gogh's paintings.
But affetto is also used.
Il suo affetto per i bambini l'ha portata a fare la maestra.
Her love of children led her to be a teacher.
A strong liking for something is a passione or andare matto per qualcosa
La sua passione per golf era evidente a tutti.
His love of golf was evident to everyone.
Vado matto per il cioccolato. I love chocolate.
Even though tennis was a gentleman's game, love is translated as zero!
Il punteggio era trenta a zero. The score was thirty love.
Never finish a letter with the word love, use instead Forti abbracci e bacioni.
February 2009
Carlo Mignani
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Nomi Italiani
Each of us has a name and a surname, but in other times and countries there were different
customs. For example the Romans used three names, such as Marcus Tullius Cicero or
Gaius Julius Caesar. The first was the prænomen of which only about 30 were used,
the second, the nomen, or gens, was the family name originally derived from their tribe.
The third, the cognomen, indicated the branch of the family. In Italian the first
name is called nome and the last name is cognome.
In Italy, most first names have their origin in Latin, German or the Bible.
Alberto
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German
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adal-berth = shining noble
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Anna
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Hebrew
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grace, favor
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Carlo
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German
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karl = strong man
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Claudio
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Latin
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claudus = lame
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Emanuele
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Hebrew
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immanu-El = God is with us
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Filippo
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Greek
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phillippos = lover of horses
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Francesca
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Latin
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from France
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Franco
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German
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free man
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Giorgio
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Greek
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gheorgòs = farmer
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Giovanni
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Hebrew
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Jeho-hanan = God is gracious
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Giulio
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Latin
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down-bearded youth
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Giuseppe
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Hebrew
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yosef = God will increase
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Guido
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German
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wido = man of the forest
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Marco
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Latin
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from the god Mars
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Paolo
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Latin
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small, humble
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Patrizia
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Latin
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patrician
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Pietro
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Greek
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stone
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Roberto
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German
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hrod-beraht = bright fame
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Rosa
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Latin
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rose
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Silvia
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Latin
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wooded, forest
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November 2008
Carlo Mignani
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Cognomi Italiani (Last Names)
Can you imagine calling a majestic figure like Giuseppe Verdi, Mr. Green?
Many Italian last names are quite colorful. Gambarotta is "broken leg,"
Battipaglia "beat the hay", Tagliabue, the
ex-baseball commissioner literally means "cut the steer". Going through the list of names of our
club I could not miss Ammazzalorso or "kill the bear".
Where are our last names coming from?
Many indicate paternity: Di Martino, De Francesco, De Carlo, etc.
(di=of)
Others a geographic origin: Di Napoli, Taormina, Trevisan, Milanesi,
etc.
An occupation: Fabbri (smith), Sartori
(tailors), Mercanti (merchants), Calzolari
(shoemaker), Pastori (shepherds), etc.
Color: Rossi (reds), Bianchi
(whites), Verdi (green), etc.
Some indicate a place: Montagna (mountain), Rivera, Valli
(valley), Villa etc.
Other animals: Cavalli (horses), Gatti
(cats), Leone (lion), Galli (cocks), etc.
Physical conditions: Longo (long), Piccini
(small), Grossi (big), Zoppi (lame)
Last names can became names of everyday usage: cicerone, the
guide that illustrates the monuments in a city or in a museum comes from the famous
Roman orator Cicero; Lancia, Romeo, from the names of
industrialists that built those cars; voltaggio,
(volt) measure of electricity from the last name of the physicist Alessandro Volta.
Can you imagine going through high school with a last name like
Bocchino, probably originally to mean small mouth,
but now slang for a sexual act?!
December 2008
Carlo Mignani
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Shopping
On a trip to Italy, it may occur to you to buy something! If
you are hungry, but not hungry enough for a
ristorante or
trattoria, you could go to a
tavola calda
(hot food bar). Then pick up some
paste (pastries) or
biscotti (cookies) at a
pasticceria (pastry shop) or some
frutta
(fruit) at a fruttivendolo
(produce market),
un panino (a sandwich) at a bar,
pane
(bread) or pizza al taglio
(slices) at a
panificio or
forno, or general items at an
alimentari
(grocery store).
After eating, you are ready for some serious shopping. Look for
vestiti
(clothes) at a negozio di abbigliamento
(apparel store), some
scarpe (shoes),
calze (socks, stockings) or a
cinta (belt)
where you see calzature
(shoes), or a borsetta
(handbag) at a pelleteria
(leather store). For something special like
orecchini
(earrings), una spilla
(a pin) or
una collana (a necklace), head to a
gioelleria
(jewelry store).
In Rome, the negozi di marca
(brand name stores) are clustered around
Piazza di Spagna, but the
prezzi sono alti (prices are high).
Prezzi medi
(moderate prices) can be found on Via Nazionale and
prezzi bassi
(low prices) or sconti
(discounts) favor the area around
Largo Argentina.
August 2008
Betsy Mignani
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De Gustibus
In Italy during the '50s, la gente
(people) and le notizie
(news) did not travel much among regioni
(regions). I was 10 years old when, from Rome, we went for the
first time to visit my father's relatives in the seashore town of
Rapallo in Liguria.
Una tavolata
(dinner party) and di parenti
(of relatives) eating "pasta al pesto":
Who are these strange people that speak with a funny
accento (accent)
and use parole
(words) that sometimes I can't even understand? I should call them
zii (uncles) and
cugini (cousins),
but they put green stuff on their pasta. Yuk! I remember
that I made such a fuss that they had to cook a new batch of pasta
with my regular beloved red sauce.
Growing up, I learned to love seppie
(cuttlefish), calamari
(squid), trippa
(tripe) and especially the traditional Roman pajata
(the calf intestine whose last meal was hopefully milk). After
I married Betsy, initially I felt personally offended when she would
not go near the pajata, no matter how much I tried. But I
could never stomach le lumache
(snails) that during the Festa di San Giovanni were on sale like popcorn.
And so, some people like la spiaggia
(beach), others le montagne
(the mountains), some are pazzi per calcio
(crazy for soccer) while others collect francobolli
(stamps), and some never stop speaking about their passion like it's the only thing.
Our ancestors devised a Latin phrase De gustibus non disputandum est
(of tastes there is no arguing). If you just mention de gustibus, most people understand immediately
that maybe it is better to change the subject.
May 2008
Carlo Mignani
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Ristrutturare
(remodeling)
After the massive migrations to the cities of the 50's and 60's,
nowadays the Italians want to go back to the country: they want
" una casa per le vacanze " (a vacation home).
Since the real estate prices have been soaring also in the
countryside, the word in fashion today is " da ristrutturare "
(to remodel): "comprare una casa da ristrutturare "
(to buy a home to remodel). The work could include
" il sistema elettrico " (the electrical system) and
" l'impianto di riscaldamento e raffreddamento "
(the heating and cooling system) and " i bagni " (the bathrooms),
but it could extend to " i pavimenti " (the floors)
or even " il tetto " (the roof), etc.
" Un casolare " (farmhouse),
" casetta o appartamento " with work to be
done is less expensive, can be owned immediately and can be
" ristrutturato con comodo " (remodeled at leisure).
April 2008
Carlo Mignani
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Gelato
One of the greatest pleasures of a trip to Italy is eating gelato .
In many places you pay the cashier first and take the scontrino (receipt)
to the bancone (counter), usually with a small mancia
(tip - 20 cents or so). You ask,
"Per favore, (please) vorrei (I would like) un gelato. "
Or you could, using the formal style say "Mi dia uno piccolo" (May I have a small one?).
You may want a cono (cone) or a coppetta
(dish).
The barista (barman) may ask "Quale sapore?"
(What flavor?) You will note that most locals ask for two flavors together. So you say
"cioccolato e vaniglia " (chocolate and vanilla). But don't stop there.
Why not cocco (coconut), limone (lemon),
caffé (coffee), fragola (strawberry),
melone (melon), stracciatella
(a sort of chocolate chip), zabaglione (egg custard with a hint of port) or
tiramisu . Very popular are nocciola
(hazelnut) and bacio (chocolate hazelnut). It will take you many tries to eat them
all but you are in luck, Italy is full of gelaterie (ice cream shops)!
June 2008
Betsy Mignani
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San Marino's Life Expectancy
What would you do to add 5 years to your life? How much money would you spend if you could buy
those five years? $100,000, $1,000,000, all you have?
Boys born in San Marino, a tiny independent state nestled in the Emilia Romagna region of
Italy, are expected to live to age 80, the world's longest male life expectancy at birth,
according to the World Health Organization. Newborn boys in the US have a 75 year
life expectancy, at 33rd place, tied with Cuba. Life expectancy is correlated
mostly to diet but also to health. In Europe, health insurance has been considered
an individual right for more than half a century and is offered to all its citizens.
The healthy Mediterranean diet, however, could not simply explain most of the difference.
The Emilia Romagna region, known for its gastronomic delights, is the home of tortellini,
Parmigiano Reggiano, ravioli, mortadella, prosciutto, ragù alla bolognese, zampone, and many
local kinds of cured meats (salumi).
During Roman times, it was intersected by the Via Emilia, the most famous consular Road
in Northern Italy. More recently, Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini were 2 of its
most famous sons. In the 1500's, the Marchesi Pallavicino were sending the famous
salame, "culatello", as a gift for the weddings of the famous and powerful instead of jewelry.
This treat has a pear shape and a delicate and sweet taste. It cannot be mass produced
like salami and prosciutto. It is still handmade by a few families that transmit its
secrets through the generations.
Parma is home of the Parmigiano Reggiano, already cited in the 1300's in the Decameron of
Boccaccio. The tagliatelle were invented in 1487 during the Bologna wedding of Lucrezia
d'Este with Annibale Bentivoglio, the duke of Ferrara, by mastro Zafirano who took inspiration
from the blond hair of the charming bride. The invention of tortellini is said to be
inspired by the sudden vision of a naked Venus. The cook wanted to reproduce, with pasta,
her belly button. Food and sensuality mix harmoniously in the way of life of the region.
Mortadella has been produced in Bologna since the Middle Ages. The Zampone, invented
2 centuries ago, is made of pork, ground rinds and spices. Many more salumi are produced
locally in small towns.
I have a personal interest in the story. Both of my grandfathers were born within a
50 mile radius of San Marino and both died early of heart attacks. Being of mature age,
I am particularly interested in knowing what the inhabitants of San Marino are doing to deserve
the primacy in longevity.
How have they managed to live longer than anybody else? Maybe the wine? Could it be
the daily exercise of walking up and down the hills of this tiny but steep town? We do not
know yet, so stay tuned.
September 2008
Carlo Mignani
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Magari
Magari is an expression much used in Italian.
Magari comes from the
Greek and means
" o beato "
(Oh, blessed). It's used in different ways.
First, as an interjection, used to express
speranza (hope) or
desiderio
(desire).
For example:
Hai vinto la lotteria? Magari! (Did
you win the lottery? I wish!).
Ti piacerebbe venire al mare? Magari!
(Would you like to come to the beach? If only I could!)
Or, second, as an adverb of doubt;
forse (maybe)
Magari domani
piove, ma è meglio innaffiare il giardino .
(Maybe tomorrow it will rain, but it's better to water the garden.)
Magari non
viene all'appuntamento, aspetterò solo altri 5 minuti.
(Maybe he's not coming to the
appointment, I'll wait only 5 more minutes.)
Lastly, as a conjunction, anche a
costo di (even if).
Verrò anch'io a
pescare con voi, dovessi magari partire all'alba.
(I'll come fishing with you even if I have to leave at dawn.)
July 2008
Carlo Mignani
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