A couple of weeks ago I talked about the fact that some Italian words can have a completely different meaning in other countries.
Now, as I guess you know quite well, in Italian there are many English words like business, mission, mouse, computer, etc.
Being able to use some English words in some contexts like business is considered quite figo – cool.
However, also in Italian there are some English words that are used with a completely different meaning from the one they have in English.
So, pay attention to the meaning of these confusing Italian words.
PILE
In English the word pile can be both a verb and a noun.
As a noun it can mean a heap of things laid one of top of another, pila, ammasso or cumulo in Italian.
As a verb it can mean the action of placing things one of top of another, impilare, mettere in pila, or ammassare in Italian.
In Italian, however the word pile, pronounced as in English, can mean only one thing: fleece.
Ex: Mettiti il pile chef a un freddo cane fuori!
Put on your fleece, it’s freezing outside!
BOX
As a noun box in English can mean container, for example for chocolates, scatola in Italian.
However, this same word in Italian has a complete different meaning. Did you know that you could put a car in a box in Italy? And no, I’m not talking of toy cars.
In fact, box in Italian means garage.
Ex: Hai messo la macchina nel box?
Did you put the car in the garage?
SLIP
Among the possible confusing Italian words this is the funniest. Indeed, while the English noun slip refers to an unintentional act of sliding, scivolare in Italian, in Italian the same word refers to something you usually wear. In fact, slip can mean both underwear and panties
Ex: A Capodanno indosserò questi slip rossi
On New Year’s Eve I’ll wear these red panties
SMOKING
Smoking in English refers to the act of inhaling smoke, fumare in Italian. However, in Italian lo smoking is a very elegant male suit and means tuxedo.
Ex: Al mio matrimonio indosserò uno smoking bianco
On my wedding day I’ll wear a white tuxedo
WATER
Water in English is something you drink, acqua in Italian. In Italian, instead, water – read vater – is the toilet bowl.
FOOTING
Honestly, I don’t know if this word is still widely used in Italian because more and more Italians use another English word to indicate the same thing nowadays.
However, if in English footing means a secure grip with one’s feet, appoggio in Italian, in Italian this words is used to indicate the act of jogging.
Ex: Faccio footing due volte alla settimana
I go jogging twice a week
Did you know that these English words had a completely different meaning in Italian? Do you know some other confusing Italian words like these?
Credits
Original image by: AnaCorpus
Three stunning walled cities in Italy
