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Italian Word of the Day
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By
Last updated:
February 22, 2022
You can’t make a cake without the ingredients, no matter how shiny your whisk is.
In the same way, mem
orizing vocabulary is absolutely necessary for full mastery of Italian.
You may be able to conjugate irregular verbs or correctly use the subjunctive mood, but if you’re trying to make a cake, having the right tools won’t get you very far without the materials—and if you’re trying to form a sentence, you’ll need a word.
“I need a….”
“Where’s the…”
“Can you pass me the…”
Being at a loss for words is no fun.
And when it comes to a language as rich as Italian, there are a lot of words to learn.
The good news is that a variety of apps, podcasts, blogs and newspapers offer Italian “word of the day” services. No longer must you rely on bulky bilingual dictionaries and endless flashcard decks to pick up new words!
With Italian word of the day resources, you can have your cake and eat it, too. These services make vocab learning fun and effective, by sending you a new Italian word every single day. You’ll learn beautiful words, untranslatable words, interesting words and just plain useful words.
Think of it as taking a little “bite” out of your Italian learning every single day.
Let’s have some cake!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
7 Italian “Word of the Day” Services to Expand Your Vocabulary Every Single Day
If you’re lucky enough to live in Italy, your new word acquisition will happen naturally as you go about your daily life. When you find yourself at a loss for words, you may have to learn a new one on the fly to get that hair dryer or toothpaste you need.
But if you don’t live in Italy, you’ll have to find some other way to get consistent vocabulary practice. That’s where word of the day resources come in handy.
How would you like your word of the day served to you? Delivered to your phone via a handy app? Sent straight to your inbox? Meticulously explained in a daily podcast? Whichever method you choose, we’ve got something for you:
1. Daily Dose of Language (App) — iOS | Android
This is a free app available in several modern languages. Be sure to select Italian as your language and then choose your language level. Daily Dose automatically sends you a new word each day that includes audio pronunciation help and a three-minute video on how to use the new word of the day.
This is an excellent app to supplement your more formal Italian studies. Not only is it practical (you’ll learn words you actually need) but it’s a fun way to integrate Italian vocabulary acquisition into your daily routine. All your new daily words are archived, so you can practice and test your retention at the end of each week.
2. ItalianPod101’s Word of the Day (Email List)
ItalianPod101 offers a free word of the day subscription email service. You’ll receive a new word in your inbox every day, including examples of how to use the word in daily life. It’s a great way to make sure you learn a new Italian word first thing in the morning!
If you find yourself enjoying this email service, you’ll be glad to know that ItalianPod101 also has a number of great paid features for Italian learners. If you sign up for ItalianPod101, you’ll gain access to over 800 Italian lessons on grammar and vocabulary, plus a new lesson every week. These virtual lessons are taught by three native Italian speakers, meaning you’ll learn proper pronunciation right from the start. You can even participate in instructor-led group discussions for extra support on tricky subjects.
ItalianPod101 is definitely worth checking out. But if you just want quick and easy access to Italian words of the day, start by signing up for the free daily emails and go from there. Be sure to select your correct Italian level.
3. Transparent Language’s Italian Word of the Day (Email List)
Transparent Language provides a free Italian word of the day lesson when you join their email subscription service. Every morning you can expect a new word in your inbox with full explanations.
Daily words can be any part of speech and include everything from verb conjugations to appropriate use of prepositions. You’ll also receive helpful usage notes that highlight how the word’s use may differ from its English counterpart. A more in-depth companion lesson covering each new word of the day is available for a monthly fee.
4. Let’s Speak Italian (Podcast)
A new episode of this Italian learner podcast is available every weekday. Lasting anywhere from two to five minutes, each episode features a new word of the day.
The podcast highlights a wide variety of highly useful words. For example, a recent episode explained how to use the word questo (this). Another featured the word ricevere (to receive). Each episode also comes with notes that explain the word and its contextual usage. Hearing the daily word pronounced by the host is great for retention and can also help you work on your pronunciation.
5. Parola del Giorno (Blog)
Parola del Giorno, literally meaning “word of the day” in Italian, is a blog that provides a word of the day in line with the season or that has something to do with recent news.
For example, in mid-December they featured addobbare (to decorate), in order to help readers talk about decorating a Christmas tree. Along with each word, you’ll find interesting notes on word origin, cultural explanations and relevant grammar tips. All daily words also include audio pronunciation. The thematic index of past words is also useful when searching for new words or phrases in line with the season.
6. The Local’s Word of the Day (Newspaper Column)
Nearly every anglophone expat in Italy knows the English-language newspaper The Local. It’s a one-stop shop offering everything from job postings to holiday shopping guides and language lessons. Their Italian Word of the Day column is as amusing as it is practical.
For full access to their language column, The Local requires a monthly or yearly paid subscription. This is well worth it if you’re planning an extended stay in Italy.
However, if you don’t want to worry about subscribing, several of their words of the day are available for free.
7. Daily Italian Words (Blog)
A blog curated by a native Italian and a British Canadian, Daily Italian Words is a fun and friendly publication with tips, trivia and cultural commentary. You’ll find a new word of the day and expression of the week right on their homepage, or you can click on “Word of the Day” to access their archive of past words.
Their posts are engaging and funny, and they focus on context to help you learn when to use each word. Sign up for their newsletter or follow them on Twitter to get daily updates and immerse yourself in Italian culture from afar.
How to Practice Italian Words of the Day
Whichever of the resources you choose, remember that consistency is key. There are no secret tricks here. Learning new words is a daily practice. Make it part of your routine. After you brush your teeth and have your morning coffee, dedicate ten minutes a day to learning new words. A little goes a long way if you’re consistent.
Also, don’t overdo it. Try to learn just one to three new words per day. Otherwise, your brain may not retain all the new information.
Here are some tips to help you on your journey:
Make It Your Mission to Use the Word of the Day
After you learn the new word of the day, use it. Try forming a sentence with it. Repeat it over and over. Practice in front of a mirror or with a language partner. If you don’t have any opportunities for speaking practice, write a few sentences with the word. Look for it when you read: you’ll be surprised to see that now your new word will pop up over and over again in your other Italian studies.
Once you have a few words under your belt, set yourself a challenge: How many words can you incorporate into one short story? It doesn’t matter how wacky the story gets. The important thing is that you’re practicing!
Create a “New Word” Journal
Most language learners benefit from writing down new words. It’s up to you whether you prefer digital or handwritten. The important thing is to keep all new words in one place. A physical journal is just fine. Or you can try Evernote (they have dictionary-style templates) or Trello (they feature interactive lists). Stay organized, and if you learn one to two words per day, test yourself at the end of the week.
Don’t just test the literal meaning of the word. Be sure to also test the contextual meaning of each word by using it in a sentence. For example, you may know that gommone means motorboat in Italian, but do you know how to use it in a sentence? (For example, Ho presso un gommone per tornare a Capri — I took a motorboat to return to Capri.)
Visualize the word in context, take a few minutes to daydream about riding a motorboat during an Italian beach vacation and then move on to the next word.
Make a Digital Flashcard Deck
Quizlet is a free program that allows you to create and share personalized flashcard decks. You can even categorize based on theme. By organizing new words in Quizlet, you can practice with flashcards and also create multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to retain new words. Quizlet also allows you to share with friends or classmates and take interactive tests together.
Some like to say that practice makes perfect. When learning a new language, though, there’s no need to pursue perfection. Create a small but meaningful daily routine for yourself and next time you find yourself at a loss for words in Italian, your recall will be swift.
Remember: every missing word is just an opportunity to learn a new one!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
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Why learn sentences, not words
Do you want to learn a new word in Italian every day?
First of all, let’s take a look at why learning new words and sentences is so important: – Having a solid knowledge of the Italian vocabulary allows us to express ourselves better, understand others better, and read texts with greater ease.
Learning new words of daily Italian is not only fun but also advantageous. It expands your understanding of the Italian language and helps you communicate more effectively.
The more words you know, the easier it will be for you to both understand and be understood by others.
Knowing just a few words can go a long way
When you become familiar with Italian, you might find that it’s easier to make yourself understood when traveling abroad.
For example, if you’re visiting Rome and want to visit a museum, but you don’t speak Italian, you can’t just walk in. You might be able to get around this by showing them your ticket, but if you know how to ask in Italian, you might get in more easily.
Knowing a few key phrases and words can also make it easier when ordering food in another country. If you know how to ask for a vegetarian option, for a dish to be served without a certain ingredient, or for some Parmesan cheese, you’ll be able to eat much better.
Why is it important to learn new words in Italian?
If you’re interested to learn Italian, you’ll need to know how to pronounce Italian words correctly. To do this, you’ll first need to know how to spell them.
Luckily, it’s relatively easy to learn new words in Italian. Once you’ve started studying this language, you’ll come across many new words and key phrases each day.
How to learn the Italian word of the day
There are lots of ways that you can learn a new word in Italian every day. Below are a few learning resources for you.
Write down new words in a journal
You don’t have to limit yourself to words you learn from language resources.
Journaling is a great way to reflect on your day and record your emotions and thoughts. Plus, it’s a great way to get your creative juices flowing.
Journaling can be especially helpful for Italian learning since it’s a great way to practice your new vocabulary in a way that’s more natural than a language-learning app.
Add the word of the day to your calendar or planner
You might not think of your calendar as a place to record things besides work, meetings, and appointments. But it can be a great place to track language-related things, too.
You can use it to record new words you learn or to mark the days when you reviewed the word and Italian phrase that you learned a few days before.
You can even use your calendar to create goals for the Italian learning process.
Make words part of your vocabulary
Some learners have the misconception that they can’t start speaking a language unless they know all of its grammar rules.
This is not true for any language, and it’s especially untrue for Italian. Even native speakers don’t know all of the grammar rules perfectly.
You don’t need to know all the rules of Italian to be able to use the language. All you need to do is make sure that you’re familiar with the word and Italian phrase that you’re using.
Learn the Italian word of the day in context
Another common mistake that learners make is only learning the words and not the context in which they’re used.
This is because they usually learn words from a flash card or other word-learning app. And while flashcards are a great tool for learning vocabulary, they only give you one side of the equation.
The other side is the context in which the word is used.
To ensure that you understand the meaning of a word, try using a method called Spaced Repetition. SR is a program that’s set up to pop up the word that you’re learning at a later time. This is great because it forces you to use the free word in conversation and improve your Italian.
Wrap up
Learning the Italian word of the day can be incredibly beneficial. Not only will it help you to understand and be understood better, but it can also be a fun and exciting experience.
There are lots of learning resources that you can go about learning Italian. Whether you use apps, write them down in a journal, or use sticky notes to remind yourself, you can learn a new word in Italian every day.
Our Italian word of the day is nonna, or la nonna, which, as many of you know, means grandmother. When you are addressing your grandmother, in Italian the word is not abbreviated or made into a nickname as it often is in English—grandma or granny or nana. In Italian nonna is nonna, and that suffices. Va bene così.
La Nonna’s Big in Italy
If you think of an Italian nonna as you’ve seen in movies or perhaps in Italian families themselves—and more so if you are Italian-American and you know from personal experience—what image comes to mind? Generations of recipes passed down through family members and deliciously prepared for Sunday dinners or pranzi. Nonna sitting outside talking with her friends. Countless stories about the way things used to be. Old proverbs, sayings, recipes—things otherwise forgotten. And of course, Italian children screaming for their nonna at the top of their lungs.
Indeed, la nonna plays an essential role in the Italian family structure, often looked to—particularly the maternal grandmother, or nonna materna—for helping raise children and bringing the family together. She is viewed as a bit of a rock—una roccia—and yet the person you run to to dry your tears. La nonna stands for authenticity, trustworthiness, and of course, endless amore and bontà—love and good. Because of that, traditional lore (and now the internet) is full of ricette della nonna (nonna’s recipes), rimedi della nonna (nonna’s remedies), and even proverbi della nonna (nonna’s proverbs). And if you have not had one, the next time you go to Italy you must have some torta della Nonna, a delicacy with pastry cream and pine nuts.
Talking About Our Nonna
- Mia nonna materna viene da Palermo e mia nonna paterna da Genova. My maternal grandmother comes from Palermo and my paternal grandmother comes from Genova
- Mia nonna è nata nel 1925. My grandmother was born in 1925.
- Mia nonna mi ha regalato questo libro. My grandma gifted me this book.
- Tua nonna è una brava cuoca. Your grandmother is a great cook.
- Nostra nonna abita a Bergamo. Our grandma lives in Bergamo.
- Tua nonna come si chiama? What’s your grandma’s name?
- Mia nonna si chiama Adalgisa. My grandma’s name is Adalgisa.
- Questa è la casa dov’è nata mia nonna. This is the house where my grandmother was born.
- Ho ricordi bellissimi con mia nonna. I have beautiful memories with my grandmother.
- Questa sera arriva mia nonna. My grandmother arrives this evening.
- Io sono cresciuta nella casa di mia nonna. I grew up in my grandmother’s house.
- Noi siamo stati allevati da nostra nonna. We were brought up by our grandmother.
- Le nonne sono molto importanti nella famiglia italiana. Grandmothers are very important in the Italian family.
- «Nonna! Dove sei?» «Grandma! Where are you?»
- Mia nonna è morta l’anno scorso. Mi manca molto. My grandmother died last year. I miss her a lot.
No Article for Your Own Grandmother
This is a good place to remind you—as you can see from most of the sentences above—that you do not need an article in front of your possessive adjective in front of your nonna: mia nonna or tua nonna, or any other direct family member in the singular (mia madre, mio padre, mio zio, tua sorella). You can click here to review your possessive adjectives. If you are asking where grandma is, you say, dov’è la nonna, or if you are referencing someone else’s nonna in third person, you say, la nonna di Marco.
If you are talking about grandmothers in the plural, it’s le nonne; le mie nonne—my grandmothers.
- Le mie nonne sono molto gentili. My grandmothers are very kind.
- Le mie nonne non vanno d’accordo. My grandmothers do not get along.
If you want to say grandparents the word is i nonni. For more family-related vocabulary, read How to Talk About Family in Italian.
Did You Know?
La Festa dei Nonni or Grandparents Day, is celebrated on October 2, the day the Catholic church celebrates Angels Day. Although it’s not as well known as Ognissanti or L’Epifania, the holiday does have its own flower symbol (the nontiscordardimé, or forget-me-not) and its own song (Ninna Nonna). The purpose of the holiday is to recognize the role of grandparents in our lives (il ruolo dei nonni nella nostra vita) and to encourage the creation of initiatives to support i nonni d’Italia!
Popular Proverb About la Nonna
Quando niente va bene, chiama la Nonna. When nothing is going well, call grandma.
Un saluto alla vostra nonna!!
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Last updated on April 14, 2023 10:07 am
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