CORONA NEW VOCABULARY

Good morning, everyone, and happy New Year once again!

As we find ourselves still in the midst of this ongoing lockdown season, it feels as though time has stood still. I understand that it’s a challenging time for us all, but let’s continue to remain strong and hold onto hope.

While we may not be able to return to our normal routines just yet, perhaps we can view this period as an opportunity to truly appreciate life and its simple joys. What do you think?

Today, I want to explore how the meaning of certain words has shifted during this time. Have you noticed it too? Words that once held positive connotations now carry a different weight in light of the pandemic.

For instance, we used to praise positivity, but now being around a “positive” person can be risky due to the potential for infection. Even something as fundamental as human touch has taken on a different meaning, as we navigate the necessity of social distancing.

Words like “quarantine,” “restrictions,” “closed,” “ambulance,” “hospital,” “vaccine,” “infected,” and “dead” have become a part of our daily vocabulary, evoking feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety.

However, amidst these challenging times, there are words that continue to offer hope and strength. While they may be familiar, let’s not overlook their significance:

“Home,” “family,” “Earth,” “savings,” “love,” “hugs,” “health,” and many more. Let’s hold onto these words, as they can serve as sources of motivation in our daily lives.

Perhaps the most important word right now is “patience.” We must remain patient as we wait for better days ahead and approach this situation with a positive mindset. Additionally, let’s not forget the importance of gratitude. Despite the difficulties, we can be grateful for what we have, including the ability to connect with loved ones through social media.

My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones or livelihoods due to this virus. Know that you are not alone, and I stand with you during these challenging times. Personally, I am grateful for my health, my family, and the everyday comforts that I have.

Let’s continue to hold onto hope and strive for a better future.

Good luck to each and every one of you!

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The opposite way!

Hello Everyone,

In a previous article, I discussed the foreign words that we Italians use in our daily lives and at work. This time, I thought it would be interesting to look at the opposite—foreigners who use Italian words.

Let’s consider some examples:

Food: Words like pizza, pasta, spaghetti, tiramisù, risotto, and cappuccino are widely used internationally.

Classical Music: Terms such as adagio, vivace, allegro con brio, aria, and opera lirica are integral to the vocabulary of classical music.

Expressions: The phrase “la dolce vita” has become famous thanks to Federico Fellini’s wonderful film. It embodies the Italian spirit of enjoying life to the fullest.

Transportation: Names like Vespa, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat are globally recognized. Although most of them are surnames, they are distinctively Italian.

Paparazzi: This word is used internationally to describe photographers who relentlessly pursue celebrities. Unfortunately, it implies that these famous individuals have no private life.

Greetings: The word “ciao” is famous worldwide. While in Italian, we use it both to greet and say goodbye, in other languages, it is mainly used to say goodbye. Curious, right?

Mafia: Regrettably, the word “mafia” is one of the most recognized Italian words worldwide. I feel a bit ashamed because, every time someone asks me where I’m from and I say “La bella Italia,” they often respond with “Oh, Berlusconi, bunga bunga, mafia.” Not funny at all.

I believe Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, filled with art, history, culture, stunning beaches, and so much more. I am genuinely proud to be Italian!

As you can see, Italian words are everywhere. Why do foreigners use them? Simply because they do not have proper translations in their own languages. This is different from our tendency to use English words to feel cool and a bit more international. They use Italian words because they need to, not because it’s trendy.

For now, I will say goodbye in my way:

Ciao ciao! 🙂

italy

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What do they say/do?

When we Italians listen to someone who is explaining something we don’t understand, we say: “They are speaking Arabic!”; Spanish say: “They are speaking Chinese!”; Brazilians, Norwegians and English say: “They are speaking Greek!/This is Greek to me!”. It is curious right? Each of these three languages is complicated grammatically and culturally, they are three different worlds. Continue reading “What do they say/do?”