https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Italian language has plenty of Easter-related expressions, and some of them can be used year-round. Here are six of our favourites. https://www.thelocal.it/20210402/six-easter-inspired-italian-phrases-explained Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:30:13 +0200 six-easter-inspired-italian-phrases-explained Fancy vocab isn't the only way to impress your friends in Italy – these quirky interjections could actually be the key to sounding like a local. https://www.thelocal.it/20240502/boh-mah-eh-five-strange-noises-italians-make-and-what-they-mean Thu, 02 May 2024 14:19:53 +0200 boh-mah-eh-five-strange-noises-italians-make-and-what-they-mean If you're living in Italy through the cold months, here are some of the words and phrases you'll hear constantly and what they tell you about Italian culture. https://www.thelocal.it/20260108/white-week-to-health-shirt-winter-vocabulary-youll-actually-use-in-italy Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:38:18 +0100 white-week-to-health-shirt-winter-vocabulary-youll-actually-use-in-italy Italy may be better known for being balmy and bright, but Italians have plenty of colourful expressions for cold and rainy weather. https://www.thelocal.it/20211202/ten-phrases-to-talk-about-cold-and-wet-weather-like-a-true-italian Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:57:53 +0100 ten-phrases-to-talk-about-cold-and-wet-weather-like-a-true-italian If you speak Italian on a regular basis, chances are that you're using Arabic words too – probably without even knowing it. https://www.thelocal.it/20240711/11-italian-words-that-are-originally-arabic Thu, 11 Jul 2024 14:01:44 +0200 11-italian-words-that-are-originally-arabic From ‘fasce di garanzia’ to ‘rimborso’, these key words and phrases will come in handy next time you're dealing with a strike in Italy. https://www.thelocal.it/20251001/the-key-vocabulary-youll-need-to-navigate-a-strike-in-italy Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:41:14 +0200 the-key-vocabulary-youll-need-to-navigate-a-strike-in-italy From food and festivities to keeping warm and cosy, these seasonal terms reveal what matters most in Italy as the temperature drops. https://www.thelocal.it/20251107/seven-words-that-define-autumn-in-italy Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:43:55 +0100 seven-words-that-define-autumn-in-italy Answering phone calls in Italy can be an intimidating task for learners, but you’ll soon become familiar with the most common greetings and phrases. https://www.thelocal.it/20231214/how-to-answer-the-phone-in-italian Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:22:26 +0100 how-to-answer-the-phone-in-italian Many Italian greetings are popular even outside of Italy. But do you know the unwritten social rules around when and how to use them? https://www.thelocal.it/20230921/buongiorno-buonasera-buonanotte-when-and-how-to-use-them Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:58:20 +0200 buongiorno-buonasera-buonanotte-when-and-how-to-use-them From applying for a job to arranging a viewing for a flat, there are many situations in Italy where you'll need to write a formal email. Here’s a quick guide to the style rules. https://www.thelocal.it/20230131/explained-how-to-write-a-formal-email-in-italian Tue, 31 Jan 2023 11:24:32 +0100 explained-how-to-write-a-formal-email-in-italian If you're spending the autumn months in Italy this year, you'll want to familiarise yourself with some key Italian words and phrases. From warm clothes to food festivals and seasonal produce, we've got you covered. https://www.thelocal.it/20230928/the-essential-vocabulary-youll-need-for-an-italian-autumn Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:09:05 +0200 the-essential-vocabulary-youll-need-for-an-italian-autumn From full barrels and drunk wives to catching fish, the Italian language has its own unique way of expressing the sentiments behind some of the most popular English sayings. https://www.thelocal.it/20230526/revealed-the-italian-versions-of-11-famous-english-sayings Fri, 26 May 2023 12:09:57 +0200 revealed-the-italian-versions-of-11-famous-english-sayings There are some Italian words that don't quite translate to English – and which reveal some interesting things about Italy and its culture. https://www.thelocal.it/20250819/7-untranslatable-italian-words-that-tell-us-something-about-italy Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:23:24 +0200 7-untranslatable-italian-words-that-tell-us-something-about-italy Bureaucracy in Italy comes with its own special vocabulary, and being familiar with the most common words and phrases can make dealing with official paperwork much easier. https://www.thelocal.it/20240902/the-key-vocabulary-you-need-to-fill-in-italian-paperwork Mon, 02 Sep 2024 16:18:02 +0200 the-key-vocabulary-you-need-to-fill-in-italian-paperwork Listening to podcasts is a great way to immerse yourself in a new language. Whether you’re just beginning your journey to proficiency or are already at an advanced level, here's a list of audio shows that will help you improve your Italian. https://www.thelocal.it/20250811/nine-of-the-best-podcasts-for-learners-of-italian Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:49:23 +0200 nine-of-the-best-podcasts-for-learners-of-italian If you're spending your summer in Italy, you'll want to familiarise yourself with some key words and phrases. From sand and sunloungers to summer hits, we've got you covered. https://www.thelocal.it/20230620/the-essential-vocabulary-youll-need-for-an-italian-summer Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:28:43 +0200 the-essential-vocabulary-youll-need-for-an-italian-summer One of the hardest aspects of learning Italian is figuring out when a 'tu' or a ‘Lei’ is appropriate. Here's a look at how this works, plus some handy guidelines to help you confidently pick the right option. https://www.thelocal.it/20250123/how-to-use-the-italian-tu-and-lei-like-a-native-speaker Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:12:02 +0100 how-to-use-the-italian-tu-and-lei-like-a-native-speaker Travelling in Italy this summer? Knowing how to use some commonly misunderstood transport-related vocabulary will help you on your way. https://www.thelocal.it/20250626/the-key-italian-words-you-wont-want-to-mix-up-when-travelling Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:22:31 +0200 the-key-italian-words-you-wont-want-to-mix-up-when-travelling The Italian language famously has a large number of verb tenses. But how many of them do you really need to know at first? https://www.thelocal.it/20191211/which-italian-verb-tenses-are-the-most-useful Wed, 11 Dec 2019 12:52:11 +0100 which-italian-verb-tenses-are-the-most-useful Seeing a doctor can be a challenging experience if you’re new to the Italian healthcare system, but possibly even more so if your 'dottore' doesn't have a good command of English. https://www.thelocal.it/20240417/the-key-italian-vocabulary-youll-need-for-a-doctors-visit Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:16:38 +0200 the-key-italian-vocabulary-youll-need-for-a-doctors-visit