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Author Archives: Jodina
The Sneaky S | ITALIAN LANGUAGE NUGGET o’ the week | Avoiding Pronunciation Landmines
Rather listen than read? â Podcast below â Italian, like all languages, has its trickier points of pronunciation. This week, Iâd like to put the spotlight on what I call the Sneaky S. Itâs one of the most common mistakes … Continue reading
What IS Ferragosto?
Just what is this thing called Ferragosto? A midsummer Italian holiday, Ferragosto was originally linked to a celebration of the middle of summer, agricultural activity, and cycles of nature. The holiday was celebrated in the Roman Empire to honor the … Continue reading
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La Pasqua: Easter Eye Candy [a foto blog]
Prefer to read this post in English? Skip to the text in green. CosĂŹ come guardare le vetrine non incide sui nostri budget, concedersi la bellezza di queste bellissime vetrine italiane decorate con esposizioni elaborate di dolci pasquali non ci … Continue reading
Top 10 Reasons People Study Italian
Why do you study Italian? (And if you donât, why do you think people study Italian? And also, what are you waiting for? ⊠This beautiful language is calling you! đ ) I came across this list and thought it … Continue reading
International Women’s Day – Auguri alle donne!
March 8th, International Womenâs Day, is celebrated widely in many countries around the world, though it is little known in the US. I first heard of it shortly after Iâd moved to Italy. Womenâs Day is a celebration of all … Continue reading
Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, learn italian
Tagged donne, festa della donna, italian san diego, Learn Italian, mimose, mismosa
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Verona is for lovers… and graffiti artists + Valentine’s Love Phrases
A little while back, I had the chance to spend a little time in Verona, and of course one of the places I visited was the famed Casa di Giulietta (Julietâs House). Though itâs not really her house, nor is … Continue reading
“Blackbird Days”: Italy’s Distant Cousin to Groundhog Day
Christmas holidays have come and gone, and by the end of January, many of us have had it with cold, gray, rainy or snowy weather. How much more of this and how much longer âtil spring? If youâre in the … Continue reading
A proposito di propositi… Speaking of Resolutions… + Quizlet Practice Set!
So yes, the title if this blog post is a play on words: A proposito di, meaning âspeaking of,â propositi, meaning âintentions/aims/objectives/goalsâ, as in the expression i buoni propositi per lâanno nuovo, or New Yearâs resolutions. And speaking of resolutions, … Continue reading
Arriva la Befana | The Befana Is Coming
Around Italy, i ragazzi, the kids, are getting ready to hang their calze, stockings, by il camino, the chimney, with care, in hopes that la Befana soon will be there. i bravi, the good ones, will get caramelle, candies, and … Continue reading
Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian
Tagged befana, epifania, italian christmas, italian epiphany, natale
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Lentils for Luck – Italian Recipe for a Prosperous New Year
Prefer to read this post in English? Skip to the text in green.     Secondo lâusanza italiana, se ti vuoi assicurare di un nuovo anno fortunato, a Capodanno  devi mangiare le lenticchie. Piatte e tonde, assomigliano le monete, e per … Continue reading
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