Italian is a language rich with expressions that don’t always have a neat English equivalent. Some words encapsulate emotions, situations, or cultural nuances so perfectly that you’ll wish they existed in your own vocabulary. Here are 10 of the best.
1. Culaccino
Culaccino
/ku.latˈt͡ʃi.no/The mark left on a table by a cold glass. A tiny but oddly satisfying word for something English speakers just call a 'water ring' - though 'culaccino' sounds far more poetic.
2. Menefreghista
Menefreghista
/me.ne.freˈɡi.sta/Someone who couldn’t care less. A blend of 'me ne frego' ('I don’t care') and '-ista' (a suffix for someone who embodies a trait). English needs this for all those blissfully indifferent people in your life.
3. Abbiocco
Abbiocco
/abˈbjɔk.ko/The drowsiness that hits after a big meal. While 'food coma' comes close, 'abbiocco' specifically captures that warm, heavy lethargy of post-pasta bliss.
4. Sobbalzo
Sobbalzo
/sobˈbal.t͡so/The jolt of surprise when something unexpected happens - like a sudden noise or a jump scare. 'Startle' doesn’t quite convey the physical jerk of a 'sobbalzo'.
5. Magari
Magari
/maˈɡa.ri/A versatile word meaning 'maybe', 'if only', or 'I wish'. It’s the sigh in word form - perfect for those moments when hope and doubt collide.
6. Sprezzatura
Sprezzatura
/spret.t͡saˈtu.ra/The art of making the difficult look effortless. Borrowed from Renaissance courtiers, it’s the cool-girl nonchalance of appearing perfectly put together without trying.
7. Gattara
Gattara
/ɡatˈta.ra/A woman (often older) who devotes herself to feeding and caring for stray cats. While 'cat lady' exists in English, 'gattara' carries a more affectionate, communal connotation.
8. Meriggiare
Meriggiare
/me.ridˈdʒa.re/To rest in the shade during the hottest hours of the day. A verb born from Mediterranean summers, where escaping the midday sun isn’t lazy - it’s survival.
9. Pantofolaio
Pantofolaio
/pan.to.foˈla.jo/A homebody who loves lounging in slippers ('pantofole'). The cosy cousin of the Danish 'hygge', but with more emphasis on never leaving the house.
10. Commuovere
Commuovere
/komˈmwɔ.ve.re/To be moved to tears by a story or gesture. Unlike 'touched', 'commuovere' implies a warmth that stirs both heart and tears - like a heartfelt film scene or an unexpected kindness.
Next time you’re lost for words in English, borrow one of these. For more untranslatable gems, check out our guide to Portuguese words that capture unique emotions or Russian words with no English equivalent.
