Illustration by Elena Lombardi.
Italian is world-famous for sonorous and emotionally expressive words. But, believe it or not, there are many wonderful Italian words that never made it to modern times. We think that’s a shame, so we’ve collected our favorite “vintage” and old Italian words that deserve a comeback.
Apostrofare
verb: to harangue
Ammaliare
verb: to charm
Artefatto
adjective: unnatural
Bislacco
adjective: odd
Buonamano
noun: tip
Forbito
adjective: refined
Frusto
adjective: threadbare, worn-out
Gaglioffo
noun: a rapscallion
Granciporro
noun: an enormous mistake (literally: a big crab)
Lapalissiano
adjective: obvious
The word originates from the grave of Marshal Jacques de La Palice. The tombstone said “Ci-gît le Seigneur de La Palice: s’il n’était pas mort, il ferait encore envie.” (Here lies the Seigneur de La Palice: If he weren’t dead, he would still be envied.) The words were misread in “… s’il n’était pas mort, il serait encore en vie” (If he weren’t dead, he would still be alive). Quite obvious, right?
Luculliano
adjective: plush
From Lucio Licinio Lucullo, an ancient Roman famous for his sumptuous feasts.
Meditabondo
adjective: pensive; contemplative
Obnubilato
adjective: clouded
Pleonastico
adjective: pleonastic
From the Greek πλεονασμός — pleonasmòs — which means “superfluous”
Ramanzina
noun: telling-off
Variant: romanzina (a long speech)
Sagittabondo
adjective: with eyes able to launch love arrows
From the Latin sagitta which means “arrow.”
Sciamannato
adjective: shabby
Sgarzigliona
noun: a buxom woman
Smargiasso
noun: braggart
Solipsista
adjective: selfish
This comes from the philosophical idea of Solipsism.
Trasecolato
adjective: astonished
Literally: “out of the century.” To be so surprised, you’re in another century.
Vattelappesca
interjection: who knows?!
The “and all” that Holden Caulfied says constantly in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye became vattelappesca in the most famous Italian translation.