Italian Words Don't Mean the Same in Italy

There are many Italian words and phrases that have infiltrated the English language, but if we were to use the same words in Italy, we might find they mean something very different.

When we ask for a latte here in the states, we are usually in a coffee shop (not me, I hate the stuff) asking for a coffee with lots of milk. In Italy, ask for latte and you get milk. Just milk. And if you ask for a biscotti with the latte, you'll get a bunch of cookies (of any type--the "i" designates more than one), not necessarily a biscotto, the twice baked Italian cookie you get here. All cookies are called biscotto there... or biscottini or galetta. 

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This is the one we use at home. Makes great panini.

And let's say you're hungry and want a panini here... you get a toasted, pressed, grilled sandwich. Italian style. In Italy, all sandwiches are called panini. While in the tourist restaurants when you see panini, you'll most likely get a toasted, pressed panini, in other areas you get something that looks like a close cousin to the all American hero sandwich.

And in the states, that sexy but dim-witted gal making your panini might be a bimbo, but in Italy, a bimbo is a very small child or toddler. So, don't go rushing into that little shop on the piazza with "bimbo" on the sign... all you'll get is toddler clothes and toys. And Bimbo a Bordo just means there's a baby on board... and no, not that kind of baby.

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Hugh Jackman & Family al fresco, even the dog has a puffy jacket. Chic.

When we say al fresco, we mean we are dining outside, at a picnic or in an outdoor cafe. When Italians say al fresco they are talking cool... cold, breezy, chilly, shady.... something they avoid at all costs. When they are fresco, they put on their puffy jackets and scarves. If you want a cold drink, ask "e fresca? Of course, you won't get it. Fresca also just means fresh, or room temperature.

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If you see Prosciutto as an ingredient here in the States, it's very Italian... that fatty, paper-thin salt cured ham, usually from Parma. But in Italy prosciutto is just ham--any ham. When asking for what we call prosciutto in Italy, look for prosciutto crudo (raw), even though it's not exactly raw. Cooked ham is proscuitto cotto (cooked). For what it's worth, ask for Speck if you want to try a much drier, smoked prosciutto. Delizioso! 

Then there are the English words that were re-invented by Italians. Italians don't go jogging, they go footing.   If you want to rent a tuxedo in Italy, you really want to ask for a smoking. Yes, as in smoking jacket. And if you want to put your child into day care, you want to look for baby parking. Hopefully, not in a lot. After the kid is parked, and you want to go out to to a dance club, you want to find a night, I suppose, even if the club is open during the day. (Why not notte, the Italian word for night?) I guess that's better than the French calling a nightclubs a boîte (box). Which reminds me, in Italy you put your car into a box, not a garage. And your baby goes into a box too, not a playpen. Just don't get them mixed up.

--Jerry Finzi

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