Category Archives: Uncategorized

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

The Week in Words>> A Blast of Italian Vocabulary

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Jodina

. Perhaps one of your new year’s resolutions is to migliorare (improve) in italiano. As a way to expand and improve your vocabulary of Italian words, I thought it might be useful and interesting to share some of the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Vocabulary, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged italian audio, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian new year's resolutions, italian sayings, italian verbs, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, propositi per l'anno nuovo, speak italian | 2 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 Vocabulary:

>> Favorite Italian Christmas Words & Practices

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Jodina

. Some of my favorite things about the Italian Christmas holiday season are — not surprisingly — edible. Starting with le castagne, il panettone, and le lenticchie, following is a list of a few of my favorite Italian Christmas holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Food, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged italian christmas, italian classes, Italian Culture, Italian Language, italian phrases, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, learn italiano, natale italiano, study italian san diego | Leave a comment

Italian Traditions>>

Buon Sant’Ambrogio & O’Bej O’Bej!

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Jodina

[Note: Any passages in Italian are subsequently translated into English.] Il 7 dicembre a Milano viene osservato e festeggiato come il giorno di Sant’Ambrogio, il patrono della città. (The 7th of December in Milan is observed and celebrated as Saint … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Italian Music>>

Musica italiana:

“Volare” Demystified!

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Jodina

Nearly everyone can sing along to the chorus of the Italian song “Volare.” It’s a happy tune whose popularity has spanned generations. Recorded by Domenico Modugno in 1958, the song became the first winner of the Grammy Award for Record … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 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

“Alla fiera dell’est”

Italian Music –Musica italiana–

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Jodina

The Italian song “Alla fiera dell’est” (At the Eastern Fair) is a bit reminiscent of the kids’ song “The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”. Both songs feature a repetitive tale that recounts a growing string of events that all … Continue reading →

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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