Reading is one of the best ways to acquire new vocabulary. Indeed, in books words are presented in context, and this makes it easier for readers to understand their use and meaning. Moreover, with the advent of ebooks and e-readers – like Amazon’s Kindle – acquiring new vocabulary is even simpler, since you have instant …
Learn Italian
Texting in Italian
If you’re planning to spend some time in Italy, knowing some of the abbreviations people use when texting in Italian can probably come in handy. Since the advent of mobile phones, texting has become always more and more popular. Every day, Italians send more than 150 million text messages. And if at the beginning texting …
Ten Italian idioms about animals
Idioms are found in any language. While native speakers master them naturally, language learners might have some difficulties remembering them. But what are idioms exactly? Idioms are fixed expressions generally used in a figurative sense, not in a literal one. So, if I say you’ve got ants in your pants, I don’t mean that your …
Ti voglio bene – How to show affection in Italian
Today I’m going to teach you the use of a typical Italian expression with the help of my Dutch friend Rob. I knew Rob more than two years ago on a social network. We were both members of a group for people interested in Italian and Italy. Rob is so in love with Italy that …
Happy hour or aperitivo? – Italian customs
Are you planning a low budget holiday in Italy? Then, aperitivo and happy hour might come in handy. But what are aperitivo and happy hour? APERITIVO The idea of aperitivo in Italy dates back to 1784, when Antonio Benedetto Carpano invented Vermouth, a drink made of white wine aromatized with more than 30 different spices …
