Chi fa da sé, fa per tre.
Literal meaning: the one who do something by himself, does what 3 people could do.
English version: if you want something done well, do it yourself.

Prendere due piccioni con una fava
Literal meaning: to take 2 pigeons with a bean
English version: To kill two birds with one stone

Il diavolo fa le pentole ma non i coperchi
Literal meaning: Devil makes pots but not the tops.
Truth will out

L'abito non fa il monaco
Literal meaning: the dress doesn't make the monk.
English version: Cloths don't make the man

Chi dorme non piglia pesci
Literal meaning: The one who sleeps doesn't take fishes.
English version: The early bird catches the worm

Want to know more? Keep following us or check the Slang page now!

• Italian women are romantic. And I mean ROMANTIC. Try to understand we have to constantly live with Italian men. And this means that if you want to win our heart you have to surprise us. Nowadays we complain Italian men are not what they used to be years ago. So, go with roses, a romantic candle-lit dinner, a walk on the beach. But pay attention not to be too mushy. We want YOU to be the MAN.
  
• We are JEALOUS. When I hear some alien talking about Italian men's jealousy I can't but laugh. Have you ever seen how much jealous an Italian woman can be? Maybe because we are used the the Italian men flirting attitude, and we constantly have to be ready for the fight. Regardless the reason, the point is, dating an Italian woman will mean, soon or later, to experience a jealousy scene. Don't give us a reason to...or yes, you'll discover the tornado force.
• We are proud of our Italianness. We know how to seduce you with a magnificent dinner, we know how to dress in the proper way in every single occasion, we know how to be sexy, or casual, or dressy. As somebody would say, "We are not bad. We are just drawn that way". We are supposed to be the most charming women on the planet. And men have to constantly notice and appreciate it.
  
• Who is paying? You, man! Despite we claim to be femminist, it's the man paying the bill at the restaurant/cinema or whatever your night is about!
  Every single woman will tell something like, "No, please, let's share the bill". Please, refuse. We say no, but we mean yes. All the times. It's just the way we have to be polite, but we definitely expect you to be a real gentleman.
  
• FOOD. This can become a killing point for a main reason: we are Italian. So, generally speaking, we can cook. No, sorry. We are great at cooking. And, thanks to our grandmothers and mothers, we are constantly afraid of starving our guests. This means that you will end a romantic dinner being so full that you won't be able to move. Refusing the food? That's not an option. We prefer to give up to the "after-dinner" than to think in your stomach there is stll some empty place. If you have not read our article MANGIA!!! How to survive to the Italian Motto, maybe it's time for you to check it out!
• During an argument we don't talk: we scream. Also during a normal conversation, you will notice our tone tend to be louder than expected. And when we discuss we feel this inner force that brings us to increase the volume. Well, if you think about it, there is a reason why the most amazing worldwide tenor was Italian, right?
  

And to conclude, remember that despite all the changings we experience we still remember what our grandmothers taught us "Let the men believe he has the power, but don't forget you are the one in control." Yes, Italian women will make you do all they want. And the funny part is, you will neither realize it. But I can guarantee you something: you will have fun like ever in your life!

Good luck with the Italian Tornado!



Do you wish to discover how Itaian Men are? Click here!

The first and most incredible example is relating to the Jogging. Yes, English speakers go jogging but Italians, when they won't to be sophisticated and feel international, go FOOTING. And no doubt every Italian will tell you he is absolutely sure it's an English word.  Isn't it? No??? Are you kidding me?

And despite the Italian language has a word for everything, women wear SLIPS (underpants) and BODIES ( bodysuits) while men love SPIDERS (cabriolets) and wear SMOKINGS (outfits).
We do the AUTOSTOP (hitch-hiking), we send MAILS (not e-mails), we start our career with a STAGE (internship) and we go to the cinema to watch a FILM (don't tell us you English people call it a movie, 'cause we can't believe it ...)

This means that when you talk with an Italian, it can happen that your interlocutor uses an English term but meaning something completely different from what you think or that he will use a term, sure you will understand it, when you won't have any idea of what he wants to communicate. 

Luckily for you there are English words that are now part of our vocabulary and that have the right meaning (and that we love to use instead of the Italian ones). 

So we hire managers, we participate to meetings,  we spend great week-ends, we attend to shows and we become fans, we love shopping and we are fashion, we are afraid of serial killers, we get worried for the budget, we use the computer, we are business oriented, we fight against competitors and sometimes we work part-time. We set targets, we organize the spending review, and we give feedbacks.

This will help you...if you're so lucky to find an interlocutor who can pronounce it correctly.
Obviously forget to hear these words at the plural form. We only use the singular one. Always!

Oh, the Italianglish actually made another miracle, helping creative people to invent some new words. So, if you hear that somebody "SCHEDULA un meeting" and "DELIVERA un report" it's exactly what he means: he is scheduling a meeting and delivering a report.

Confusing? Hopeless? Yes.

The solution? Use your imagination and learn Italian. That's the only thing that can save you from the Italianglish trap!

If you want t give a look to the Italian Slang we have a special section for you here!

The first rule to obtain the perfect translation you are looking for is one only.

HIRE A NATIVE ITALIAN TRANSLATOR.

Very often I see job postings asking for a native English speaker to translate a text INTO ITALIAN.
 
And many times I receive job proposals asking me to translate into English.

The answer is, I am very sorry, but I CAN'T DO IT.

Probably some could think that only mastering the source language it's possible to obtain a meaningful translation. Even if this is true, and translating requires a very good knowledge of the source language, this doesn't mean the translator needs to be a native speaker.

The rule # 1 If you want a perfect translation in Italian is to hire an ITALIAN mother tongue translator. No option here. Translation is for natives only!

Reason is that your goal is to have a final text that is meaningful and sounds natural to your target audience. And your target audience speaks Italian. There is no native English (nor French, or German etc. ) translator able to provide all the nuances of the target language if not an Italian mother tongue.

Having lived for a period in Italy, or having Italian grandparents, or an Italian surname or having studied Italian at Univeristy doesn't create an Italian native speaker.

So, start from today. Change your habits. And remember that only a native translator in the target language can offer you the valuable translation you're looking for.

ANNO NUOVO, VITA NUOVA 
(New Year, New Life)

All you should know to make this proverb real.


New Year's Eve is almost here and Italy is ready to party for the Capodanno or Notte di San Silvestro.
As you can immagine a MAGNIFICIENT dinner is what makes our night special and, as always, we have so many ways to ask the GOOD SPIRITS to help us beginning the new Year in the right way, and most of all, HAVE A RICH NEW YEAR.

So, once again, here is all you should do to make the 2014 the most lucky of you life!

WHAT and HOW TO DRINK AND EAT
First of all, there are special ingredients that can't be missed.
The most traditional dinner is based on COTECHINO AND LENTICCHIE. Lentils is what will bring you MONEY, so many money!

UVA (GRAPES): something else you can't miss. And, if you really want to respect traditions, you will start eating it 12 minutes before midnight, ONE GRAPE PER MINUTE.

MELOGRANO (pomegranate): eating it will bring you fertility and prosperity!

SPUMANTE OR CHAMPAGNE: we make a toast at midnight, usually with SPUMANTE (Champagne is too French for us) and after that we will soak our fingertip in it and pour the back of our ears (and our loved ones) to bring joy and happiness thanks to a little drop of Spumante.

WHAT TO WEAR
Something can't miss both for men and women: RED LINGERIE. It's a must. Absolutely.

WHAT TO DO AND TO AVOID
Around Italy we have so many different traditions, and some of them can change a little depending on the region. But, some are well knows across all the Boot. So these are the most famous!

THE FIRST PERSON TO MEET ON THE 1st must be THE OPPOSITE GENDER of yours.

THROWING OLD OBJECTS AWAY. This is a tradition still alive especially in Naples and some other parts of southern Italy. And it can happens that people throw objects from their balconies, from plates, to glasses, to chairs and whatever is old...soooo....if you're spending your New Yeaar's Eve in Italy watch your heads!

FIRECRACKERS (BOTTI)- Once used to send the evil spirits away, they are a tradition you will find all over the country. So, pay attention if you decide to party in the streets...we go crazy for them and fireworks, and it's legal for everybody to use them. And sometimes it can be dangerous for real...So, watch your step!


And this is to WISH YOU ALL A WONDERFUL 2014...full of joy, happiness and prosperity!
Stay connected...stay Italian!

Want to discover more? Go to the Home Page and find out all the resources of the Italian Bridge!

I just came back from the States, where all the people, after the big Halloween night, are ready to celebrate the Thanksgiving day. And one of the question was...do you celebrate it in Italy, right?
NOPE! I'm sorry, but that's YOUR celebration. No THANKSGIVING here. No turkeys killing here.

So what we celebrate if not Thanksgiving? Here you'll find all our festivities!

WHAT you must expect if visiting Italy during these days? No people in the street, almost no shops open, no working people. We just go on vacation, or eat, or just relax. You could find some parades during the Republic festivity. 
The most crowded place in these days?  Try to go to the cinema and you'll find it out!

So, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL WHO WILL CELEBRATE IT!
Enjoy your turkey...because we won't!

Don't miss the other articles of this BLOG or go to the HOMEPAGE to discover all the website! Italian Style!!!

There is one word that is worldwide known, and that is a kind of motto for the Italian expats and it's MANGIA.
MANGIA (Eat) is Italian Mothers' and Grandmothers' favourite word.
That you are eating like a little bird, or like a hoover, it doesn't matter. When you sit at an Italian table, you will hear this word at least one time (if you're lucky).
Many think it's just because our mothers love us, or because they always see us like a child in need to grow up, or because of our sense of hospitality.

Truth is this behaviour has a different origin. Truth is Italy experiences 2 World War and not sending our troups fighting in some alien country. The war was here, bombs were falling on the Italians heads and we can still remember our grandparents telling us about the period they had to stay in line for a portion of bread.
Truth is our grandparents knew what hunger is. And this is why we have this idea that, when food is on the table, you have to eat as much as possibile. Because you never know how long it will last.

But it's not always that easy. After so many years we are still fighting with our mothers. MANGIA is our nightmare, even if we are 40.

And MANGIA will be your nightmare if you will visit an Italian.
And it can even be embarassing, because when you refuse, maybe after having a triple portion of pasta, your host will stare at you asking "Non ti è piaciuto"? ( You didn't like it?), with such a sad face that could move a stone.

Don't surrender, or you will start eating again until you won't be able to move.

Just make a big smile, say it was DELIZIOSO (delicious) and every adjective you can think about, but it was too much food. Don't think it will be over so simply, probably this scene will last some minutes, even because this is the time your host's ego will be satisfied thanks to your compliments (she or he will try to convince you in any possibile way, trying to make you feel guilty as you have offend all the family...but it's just a trick).

At one point your host will give it up and you will feel so relieved.

Yes. Until you will hear  "É l'ora del dolce!" (It's the dessert time").
And don't think you can refuse it, forget it. This would definitely be too much for the Italian pride. Another course, another fight. But if you will survive to this too, you'll win.

After that you'll just have the CAFFE' and the AMMAZZACAFFE' (the after dinner drink).
And you will be able to roll home.

Want to read more? Go to the Homepage or find our theItalian Gestures!

• Ciao bella. Yes. This is not a stereotype. Walk in the streets and this will be one of the must you will hear. We simply ignore them (unless he doesn’t look like Raul Bova). But, even if we will never admit it, we smile all the times. Italian men will always stare at you when you walk, they will try to get into a conversation with you, or simply whistle at you. Let’s say they appreciate a nice pair of legs and they simply can’t control their mouth. Do they really want to talk to you? They will adore you if you stop by, but they won’t get offended if you’ll keep walking. They just need to express their thoughts. (Want to discover  more about the Italian slang? Click here!)
  
• If you date an Italian man, he will pay the bill at the restaurant. This is something that often shocks the English women. Italian women are so accustomed to it that neither pay attention to it. No, sorry, this is not true. Truth is, this is one of the things that will make us decide if giving him a second chance.  How it works? A little play is everything it takes…probably he will tell you he is going to the bathroom, while going to pay the bill instead. But if he is not smart enough, when the time to pay arrives, just ask “Can we share?” He will say, “Absolutely not”. You will smile and thank him. Don’t insist…he would definitely feel offended.
• It just takes a glance and they will come to you. This is something that probably works in Italy and in some other country in Europe but not overseas. Italian women don’t make a step in the man’s direction. Women simply look at them. It’s the Italian man who has to move his butt and come to you. And they still do it.  So know that if you share a glance with an Italian man he will come to you and start flirting with you. He is the man, isn’t he?
• You’re the sun of my sky. Italian men love flirting. They are the best at doing it. That it’s just a one day (or night) relationship or not, he will love you, promise you the world, make you feel the queen of his world. Is that true? If some Italian woman is reading this article she will smile now. We know it’s not. At least, if this happens in the first half an hour. But this is part of their charm I guess. If dating an Italian man, you will get more compliments in one hour that you have received during all your life.  Just let them showing you all their Casanova’s capabilities. Laughing at them is absolutely not recommended. You would hurt their feelings and their ego. Again, just let them be Italian! They will bring you looking at the sunset comparing your eyes to the first rising star. After all, it’s what every woman would love to hear at least once in her lifetime, isn’t it?
• Jealous? Yes. But we love dramas. Our men are jealous. Yes. Some could fight if another man look at their woman in a not proper way. They need to be at the centre of their women’s world. But don’t think Italian women are different. Truth is we love dramas. Italian men and women still fit perfectly because both love to get the other’s attention making a scene of jealousy from time to time. It’s part of the game.
• If you don’t like the physical contact you could have a problem. We are people who need it like the air we breathe. We hug, we touch each other while speaking, we kiss each others, we are not ashamed of sharing emotion in public. People not doing it are defined as cold. So, you can guess how it is when you date an Italian man. Forget not to take each other hand or not to have his arm or your shoulder while walking. Only strangers don’t do it.
• Don’t touch their mother. There is something you will have to always keep in mind. Mum is and always will be the number one woman of their life. Don’t be shocked if they are 30 and still living at their parents’. Don’t be shocked if they live alone but still bring clothes to wash to their mothers. And most of all, never doubt she is the best cook, the best woman, the most amazing mum of the world. Simply, you can’t compete.

To conclude, even if sometimes they are accused to be cheaters and unfaithful, there is no doubt this is another thing you can only experience in Italy.

After all, if even Miss Veronica Ciccone stated Italians do it better there must be something true…

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The Ferragosto Feast was created by Augustus in 18 B.C. (feriae Augusti- Augustus' rest) to celebrate the harvest and the end of the main agricultural tasks and it lasted all the month; the main feast was dedicated to Diana on August 13th. This was one of the few occasions during which slaves and Romans were allowed to join together.

With the Christianity, Diana celebration became the Mary's Assumption Feast and this is what we still celebrate today.

Being a national holiday Ferragosto in Italy means every single shop or  firm is absolutely closed. We don't work on this day (apart from the poor Restaurants owners especially in the most touristic cities) and if you will visit Italy during this day you will find out cities are simply EMPTY. Everybody going to have a pic nic (a tradition is the Ferragosto barbecue) and spend this day along with the family and friends far from the cities.

But as Italians descend from Romans, all the month is a rest one in Italy. Many companies and shops stay closed during the Ferragosto week (and often also the week before or after), so don't get upset if in this period you won't find all the services you was hoping to.

We, the Roman Empire descendents, need our good rest after the year's efforts. After all, we deserve it, right?


Want to discover which is the most magic Italian night? Click here and find it out or go back to the Home Page!