Category Archives: Sayings

La Madonnina, La Befana & Babbo Natale

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Jodina

~ The holy trinity of present bringers ~ As I sit here sipping on limoncello and nibbling biscotti, I am thinking to myself that it’s time for another blog post. So why not tell you about la Madonnina, la … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Italian Music, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian, Sayings, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged babbo natale, befana, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian music, italian phrases, italian sayings, italian songs, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, madonnina, madunina, natale, speak italian, study italian | 6 Comments

WWMLD? What Would Monsignor Luigi Do?

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Jodina

What does a monsignor to the Vatican do when he’s not in Rome doing what a monsignor does? Inquiring minds want to know, and I, my dears, have the answers! . . Recently I had the pleasure of having … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian, Sayings, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged italian expressions, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, Learn Italian, monsignor luigi falcone, speak italian, study italian | 1 Comment

Una Celebrazione di FIBER ARTS>>

Le antiche arti femminili

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Jodina

Perhaps you practice one of the many varieties of fiber arts, or perhaps you just appreciate i prodotti finiti (the finished products) resulting from skills that have been tramandati da generazione in generazione (passed from generation to generation). … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Blog, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian, Sayings, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged antiche arti femminili, fiber arts, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian phrases, italian vocabulary, italian words, Learn Italian | 4 Comments

International Women’s Day>> Festa della Donna

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Jodina

Mimosa Flowers . March 8th is International Women’s Day. This day is observed widely in many countries around the world. Oddly, it is not observed in the United States. In fact, the first time I’d heard of it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, Sayings, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged festa dellla donna, italian audio, italian classes, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina jovanotti, Learn Italian, march 8, mimosa, speak italian, women's day | 6 Comments

L’amore è nell’aria>>

Italian love phrases, proverbs & music

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Jodina

. In onore della stagione d’amore e il giorno di San Valentino (in honor of the season of love and Valentine’s Day), dedico questa puntata del blog ad alcuni proverbi, frasi e una canzone d’amore italiani (I dedicate this blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Holidays, Italian Music, Italian Proverbs, Italian Vocabulary, Sayings, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged amore italiano, frasi italiani d'amore, italiah valentines day, italian audio, italian classes, Italian Culture, Italian Language, italian love, italian love phrases, italian music, italian phrases, italian proverbs, italian sayings, italian songs, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, l'amore e nell'aria, Learn Italian, san valentino, zucchero | 9 Comments

Italian Holidays>>

It’s not over ’til the old lady…

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Jodina

…flies in on a broom! . . [Note: Any passages in Italian are followed by a translation in English.] . Yes, the lore of la Befana is one of my favorite parts of the Italian winter holiday traditions. So, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Sayings, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged befana, calze, carbone, coal, epifania, epiphany celebration, epiphany in italy, filastrocche sulla befana, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian phrases, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, perchè la befana si festeggia, quando si festeggia la befana, re magi, speak italian, stella cometa, stockings | 4 Comments

Italian Saying

Detto italiano:

“Hai voluto la biciletta?

Adesso pedala!”

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Jodina

. This week’s detto italiano (Italian saying) is “Hai voluto la bicicletta? Adesso pedala!” In English this translates to: “You wanted the bicycle? Now pedal!” It refers to a situation where someone was dreaming of or striving for some goal … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Proverbs, Sayings, Uncategorized | Tagged addesso pedala!, hai voluto la bicicletta?, italian audio, italian classes, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian proverbs, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, Learn Italian, speak italian | 5 Comments

“Non dire gatto…”

Italian Saying of the Week:

Il detto della settimana

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Jodina

Presenting Maxie the Moxie Cat, official Italiano With Jodina website mascot. . (Note: English translation follows.) Allora, il detto di questa settimana è quanto utile che divertente. Poi è anche il veicolo perfetto per presentare Maxie the Moxie Cat, la … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Proverbs, Sayings | Tagged italian audio, italian classes, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian phrases, italian proverbs, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, Learn Italian, non dire gatto, speak italian | 10 Comments

Italian Saying:

Il detto della settimana:

“Far venire il latte ai gomiti”

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Jodina

Salve bellissimi! . The last two proverbs have been encouraging and inspirational, so this week it’s time for a little humor. . This week’s Italian saying in its ‘raw’ or unconjugated form is “fare venire il latte ai gomiti.” . … Continue reading →

Posted in Sayings, Uncategorized | Tagged far venire il latte ai gomiti, far venire il latte alle ginocchia, italian audio, italian classes, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian proverbs, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, Learn Italian, speak italian | 2 Comments

Italian Idiom of the Week–In bocca al lupo!

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Jodina

Salve! Ecco la frase idiomatica della settimana = Here’s your weekly Italian Idiom, brought to you by Italiano With Jodina: In bocca al lupo! Literally, this means “in the wolf’s mouth” and is used to wish someone luck, as with … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Proverbs, Sayings | Tagged in bocca al lupo, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian proverbs, italian sayings, Learn Italian, speak italian | 23 Comments