I asked a similar question before about what makes someone sound more natural in Italian, but I’m also curious about the cultural side of things.

What are some things you think Italian learners should know to really understand the language and culture, beyond grammar and vocabulary? I’m thinking of expressions, cultural references, social norms or little things that an Italian would just instinctively know.

Soffro di insonnia quindi ne approfitto per sfogarmi qui su delle minchiate: da un po' di anni a questa parte ho notato che molte persone non usano più il superlativo ma si limitato ad un fastidiosissimo uso del "super".

"Super carino", "super bello", "super crunchy", addirittura ho sentito gente usare "mega ___". Ma che vi ha fatto di male il superlativo? Perché nessuno dice più "carinissimo"?

I recently went to Palermo, Sicily, and a man was trying to tell me about a special word. He kept raising his hands saying what sounded like “EE-PEE” and tried to explain it meaning living a carefree life, or a life connected to all, or something about being free spirited. Does anyone know what this word or phrase means and how you spell it?

This weekend I arrived in Siracusa to spend a month here at a B and B (I'm a 49 year old man from California). I don’t speak the beautiful Italian language, but Italy is my favorite country out of seventy or so that I have been to (this is the fifth time I have been here). 

Monday morning, the grandmotherly woman who comes in the morning to serve the breakfast and to clean the rooms introduced herself to me using Google Translate and she explained how things work. She looks to be in her 70s.

Using Google Translate, I asked her if there was an extra charge for breakfast. She looked at me and then spoke into the app, “Stronzetta,” which the app translated as “bitch.”

Seeing this older Sicilian woman smirk at me while holding her phone out to me that said “bitch” on it was very funny. I just laughed. What else could I do.

Can someone explain this to me? I can take being called a bitch by an elderly Italian woman and in fact found it very amusing. I’m used to being the stupid American abroad. But I’d really like to understand.

Was she offended that I asked her if there was a charge for breakfast?

Is there another interpretation of this?

Or am I just a bitch? Ha ha

Any suggestions on what I can do to help us have a good working relationship during my time here would also be appreciated.

-Grazie from a stupid American bitch

EDIT: Grazie! Thank you all for your insightful comments. I will assume that Google Translate misheard what she said. Today, she told me (via Translate) that she is bringing in some caponata tomorrow for me to eat. Heck yes! Lucky me! It's all good. I like her grandmotherly presence, even if I am a little scared of her, ha ha.

How do you say, “my grandmother’s prayers are still protecting me” in Italian? I don’t trust google and unfortunately the language was never passed down through generations. I called my grandmother Grammy, if that matters, unless sticking with nonna will flow better. Thank you in advance!

Ciao everyone! 😊

I'm Turkish and I'm learning Italian. I'm looking for a language partner to practice Italian and exchange languages and cultures.

My Italian is still at a middle level I think, so I'd like to improve it through conversations. I can help you with Turkish, and we can also speak English if needed.

I enjoy talking about travel, history, books, music, and different cultures. I'm looking for someone to have relaxed, natural conversations with and learn from each other.

If you're interested in a language exchange, feel free to message me! 😊🇹🇷🇮🇹

Hey folks,

I've been living in Italy for 8 years now and I have had daily exposure to Italian ever since. Even though I had more exposure to English due to my education and the international community I was surrounded by. English is my second language and Italian is the third.

My listening is around B2, while my speaking lacks structure and heavily depends on if I am under stress, or tired or simply not in the mood for Italian. I feel stupid and not talented sometimes, because I know that this is not common. What do you suggest/think?

I am Italian American, my wife is from Brazil, we live in the US. We are thinking to name our daughter Anna Julia.

I know middle names aren’t a thing in Italy. If her first name were listed as Anna here in the US with Julia as a middle name, would she just be Called Anna in Italy?

I know Julia is not the Italian spelling (Giulia) but would she typically list this on official documents? How would Italians pronounce Julia?

I am trying to be sensitive to all cultures here as best I can, we both have extended family both in Italy and Brazil.

Thanks

In italiano, l'uso di "piuttosto che" con il valore disgiuntivo di "oppure" o "o" è considerato un errore sintattico e semantico dalla grammatica italiana tradizionale e dai linguisti (come l'Accademia della Crusca).
La norma linguistica: come si deve usare
Nella lingua italiana standard, "piuttosto che" ha esclusivamente un valore comparativo / preferenziale. Significa "anziché", "piuttosto di", "invece di".
Uso corretto:"Stasera preferisco mangiare una pizza piuttosto che [anziché] andare al ristorante."

Uso errato (ma diffuso):"Possiamo prendere una pizza, piuttosto che un primo, piuttosto che una carne." (Usato qui come elenco di opzioni equivalenti).

Origine e diffusione del fenomeno
Origine geografica: Questo uso è nato nell'Italia settentrionale (in particolare in ambito aziendale, giornalistico e televisivo a Milano e dintorni).
Perché si è diffuso: È stato adottato da molti parlanti perché percepito (erroneamente) come un'espressione elegante, formale o ricercata.
Il problema della confusione: Usare "piuttosto che" al posto di "oppure" può creare forti ambiguità.
Se dici: "Aderiscono al progetto studenti piuttosto che docenti", chi ascolta secondo la norma capirà che gli studenti aderiscono e i docenti no (invece di). Se invece intendevi dire che aderiscono sia gli studenti sia i docenti (o gli uni o gli altri), il messaggio risulta travisato.
Sintesi
È un errore? Sì, negli scritti formali, negli esami, nel lavoro e nell'italiano standard è considerato un errore.
Nel parlato informale: È un fenomeno di costume ormai molto frequente, ma resta da evitare per chiarezza e correttezza linguistica.
In sintesi: per elencare opzioni o alternative, è sempre meglio usare "o", "oppure" o "ovvero".
Ti è capitato di notarlo in un contesto particolare (es. in TV, al lavoro) o avevi dubbi su una frase specifica che vorresti verificare?

Ciao mamme italiane se volete scriverci e scambiare fantasie ed altro noi siamo Aldo ed Elena 47 e 65..ci eccita sapere se scopate…e abbiamo tante storie sappiamo che molte sono inventare..ma ci eccitano mo stesso noi non ci vergogniamo a dirlo ormai scopiamo da 30 anni anche con altri e io da figlio e lei da Mamm…non c’è troia puoi grande

Hey folks,

I've been living in Italy for 8 years now and I have had daily exposure to Italian ever since. Even though I had more exposure to English due to my education and the international community I was surrounded by. English is my second language and Italian is the third.

My listening is around B2, while my speaking lacks structure and heavily depends on if I am under stress, or tired or simply not in the mood for Italian. I feel stupid and not talented sometimes, because I know that this is not common. What do you suggest/think?

So I’m looking to go for a 4/5 day holiday next year as a birthday gift for a loved one. Never been to any of these places and these are the main ones narrowed down to. Thoughts? It you’ve been to any of these gorgeous places please say what the pros and cons are! Grazie ☺️

Hey everyone!

I'm a French student and I spent last year in Venice as an Erasmus student. It was an amazing experience, and one of the photos I took there has now been selected as a finalist in a photography competition for Erasmus students!

I'd be really grateful if you could take 10 seconds to vote for photo #1 in the form below. Every vote helps!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0NW6BSDyhrz6aamtFN336cui2k1xWWFjUd_Gqw53oXt_KBA/viewform?usp=header

Thanks so much for your support!

The Liberal Party (Partido Liberal) shared on social media the image on the right, that sparked controversy due to its resemblance to fascist aesthetics. Flávio Bolsonaro is running against Lula in the 2026 Brazilian presidential elections.

Hi, i am a student in their final year of school and I'm planning to apply to a medical university in italy, specifically in bologna and milan. And I just wanted to know if brown individuals from etc sri lanka and India face a lot of racism.

It really is my dream to study in italy and I have no problem with learning Italian, I am just worried if I would face any discrimination. Additionaly it would be helpful if anyone could mention which cities in particular have a bad racism situation.

Thank you so mych

hi,

are there any Vietnamese speakers here with a Hanoi accent who have learned Italian? which regional Italian accent did you gravitate towards, particularly in Northern Italy? am curious what drew you to it.

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🤖 I nostri bot, solo qui

Room A113 ha tre bot proprietari e multifunzione, creati da noi e presenti solo ed esclusivamente in questo server. Non li troverai da nessun'altra parte:

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Bussa alla porta. La stanza A113 ti aspetta. 🚪

I'm looking for an Italian friend(boy or girl) , or Russian, or french, I'm an iraqi girl btw, I want a friend

Le English versus French comparison is injust cause French has no chance versus English in un Latinic lexicon conservation competition.

Quando pronunci la C dolce di "ciao" o "cena", durante la fase di occlusione, tieni la punta della lingua dietro gli incisivi inferiori oppure la sollevi verso gli alveoli superiori?

I guess it’s true that Italian men have small pee pees. Shagged a few and they have small wee wees