Francesco D'Alessio
Why is humor important with Italians?
Italians respect your efforts, whether it’s a short phrase or an attempt at a conversation, most of the time, they’ll congratulate you on putting your all into speaking their mother tongue. As with many languages and culture, humor is very important. For Italians, humor ranks highly as an element of everyday life, in everyday activities, romance, friendship and family get together. Italy loves a combination of these.
Many people when they go abroad tend to avoid the funny expressions in the scarcity, however, for those looking to improve their depth of learning and to go further with their advanced efforts, these Italian expressions might come in handy when you are speaking to a native. Italians, again, will appreciate the effort you go to to make a joke or mention a commonly used expression, so don’t be afraid.
Mastering one of these expressions will help you feel like a native, even more so if the reaction from the Italian-speaking is positive.
Funny Italian Expressions
Some of these are very strange but serve as a list of idioms to help add some humor to the conversations and interactions with Italian natives. Make sure to try and place these into context when you use them, they’ll be well-received when placed into the right place in a conversation. These can be used when you are abroad in Italy and taken advantage of when speaking to any Italian speaking individuals.
1. Easier said than done
- Italian: “Tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare”
- Literal translation: “There’s a sea between saying and doing”
- English equivalent/explanation: “Easier said than done
2. Once in a blue moon
- Italian: “Ogni morte di papa”
- Literal translation: “Each time a pope dies”
- English equivalent/explanation: “Once in a blue moon”
3. The early bird gets the worm
- Italian: “Chi dorme non piglia pesci”
- Literal translation: “Those who sleep don’t catch fish”
- English equivalent/explanation: “The early bird gets the worm”
4. To have a crush on someones
- Italian: “Essere cotto di qualcuno”
- Literal translation: “Be cooked of someone”
- English equivalent/explanation: “To have a crush on someone”
5. Be engraged
- Italian: “Avere un diavolo per capello”
- Literal translation: “To have a devil for each hair”
- English equivalent/explanation: “Be enraged”
6. Good luck
- Italian: “In bocca al lupo!”
- Literal translation: “In the mouth of the wolf!”
- English equivalent/explanation: “Good luck!” – we have the exact equivalent which would be “Buona fortuna!”
7. Castles in the sky
- Italian: “Fare i castelli in aria”
- Literal translation: “To build castles in the sky”
- English equivalent/explanation: “Day-dreaming deeply”
8. Lions’ pit
- Italian: “Essere nella fossa dei leoni”
- Literal translation: “To be in the lions’ pit”
- English equivalent/explanation: “To find yourself in an extremely difficult situation”
9. Roma with toma…
- Italian: “Prendere Roma per toma”
- Literal translation: “To mistake Roma with toma (Italian cheese)”
- English equivalent/explanation: “Misunderstand something”
10. Take Responsibility
- Italian: “Hai voluto la bicicletta? Adesso pedala!”
- Literal translation: “You wanted a bike? Now pedal!”
- English equivalent/explanation: “You did something, now you have to take responsibility”
11. Not showing up…
- Italian: “Tirare il pacco”
- Literal translation: “To throw the package”
- English equivalent/explanation: “To stand someone up, not show up”
How can I use these expressions?
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