FLORENTINISMS
Florentinisms
Parea, Gingillassi, Bruciate and ballotte
Your in-progress dictionary of the Florentine dialect
Parea: Florentine pronunciation of ‘pareva' (‘it seemed').
Example: ‘Quando lè arrivato Mario e parea fosse entrao i' principe! Mah...' (‘When Mario got here it seemed like a prince had come in! Whatever...')
Gingillassi: To waste time doing useless things. Also used is the …
In Other Words
Babyland
DOWNLOAD THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE BOOK Over the last two months, five people who populate my daily sphere-friends, relatives or acquaintances-have made the ‘I'm having a baby' announcement, and that's only counting half of each couple. By announcement three, I began …Florentinisms
Maremma, Torba, Tanto son garbati di nulla
Your in-progress dictionary of the Florentine dialect
Maremma: Beautiful seaside region in the Southern Tuscan province of Grosseto. In Florence, however, it is primarily used as an exclamation instead of ‘accidenti' (‘damn!').
Example: ‘Maremma bona!! E mi son fatto male!!' (‘Damn it!! I hurt myself!!')
Torba: To get drunk.
Example: ‘Maremma …
Economy + Society
More than just a market
by Suzi Jenkins
They are hanging in there, but Florentine markets are fighting the recession, too. They are a mainstay of the local economy, and in these dismal times, even these apparently thriving marketplaces are feeling the same pinch that other commercial enterprises know …
Style + Fashion
Knit with style!
Fall for the new knitwear this season
Fall is here: time to forget about summer breezes, tanned legs to show off and flowing white linen dresses. The amazing autumn colors of Tuscany are, however, reason enough to get excited about the new season, as are the warm layers …
Italian Sketches
John Paul I
The mystery surrounding the 'smiling' Pope.
His bestselling books and the films that followed have made Dan Brown famous around the world. But this American is not the only author to be fascinated by conspiracies involving the catholic church and the Holy See.
For centuries, the high walls …
In Other Words
Easy my eye,
The national inclination to downplay one's resources is matched only by the widespread ability to savor a challenge. Anyone who lives in Italy inevitably has a bit of investigatore privato running through his or her veins, for no other country proves a …Florentinisms
Gota, Stonfo, Pilloro
Your in-progress dictionary of the Florentine dialect
by Francesco Stefanelli + Alexandra Lawrence
Gota: Cheek.
Example: ‘I' bambino c'ha certe gote rosse da' i' freddo!' (‘The baby has super rosy cheeks from the cold!')
Stonfo: A punch or blow.
Example: ‘Se un la smette gni dò du' stonfi nnì muso!' (‘If you …
In Other Words
Saluting
Partenze and arrivi-the essence of friendship.The essence, in fact, of life. Very likely traumatized by their recent plane flight oltremare, my sister's children forced me to play ‘airport security check' for the better part of their summer stay. Here's what I learned: …Florentinisms
Impelagassi, Trasporto, Riau'to, Piattola
Your in-progress dictionary of the Florentine dialect
Impelagassi: To get involved in a murky situation without a way out.
Example: ‘O perche' tu' ti sei voluto impelagare con qui' bischero?!'
(Oh, why did you want to get involved with that idiot?!)
Trasporto: Funeral.
Example: ‘E c'e' i' trasporto domani alle 3.' (The …
Families + Kids
A Florentine bambino
How to give birth in the city
by Suzi Jenkins
Tuscany undoubtedly has one of the highest-quality maternal healthcare programs in Italy, possibly one of the best in the world. Hard to believe? Read on.
Once you know you're pregnant, there is, of course, the inevitable red tape to confront. First and …
Italian Sketches
Ferdinando Innocenti
The motor scooter mogul
No doubt, many of us have walked past buildings being constructed, restored or painted all over Italy without giving a minute's thought to the intricate cage of tubular steel scaffolding encapsulating them. The man who invented the labyrinthine system of vertical …
In Other Words
Unforeseen
Admittedly, most English-language learners are concerned with the nuts and bolts of it. Until the 1990s, students of English in Italy based their language skills on a single unarguable certainty: the pen is on the table. Whose pen it was, what …Florentinisms
Bacchialo, Buscanne, Strasciconi, E sa anda bene di nulla
Your in-progress dictionary of the Florentine dialect
Bacchiòlo: Stick.
Example: ‘Con quelli ci vorrebbe un bel bacchiolo e daglielo in testa!'
(‘When it comes to those guys, you need a big stick to whack them in the head!')
Buscanne: To get beat up.
Example: ‘O ragazzi,occhio perchè c'è i' rischio di …
Style + Fashion
Fashion-forward Florence
Pitti Uomo and FIFA
Florence, June 15 to 18: traffic is jammed; it's impossible to find a cab, let alone a table in a good restaurant. C'è Pitti! Earlier this month, Pitti Uomo exhibited hundreds of spring/summer 2011 collections, from classic suits to denim, tees …
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Thursday, May 23, 2013