by In Trieste
This past year has been all kinds of crazy but if it taught us anything is that with every new decree comes a new Italian word to use daily, eagerly and repeatedly. What Italian words did you learn this past year?
Lockdown
Ok, this one’s not Italian but who has ever used this one before? Ever?
D.P.C.M.
Sounds like a programming language. Why can’t they just say a decree?
Congiunti
Ahh, a nice one. Congiunti literally means relatives or friends. Courtesy of the Italian government which suggested it meant spouses, persons who live together or don’t really live together but love each other nonetheless. Or your first cousin once removed. Ahh, the confusion.
Assembramento
Ah yes, those people who got together in the infamous “movida” streets of Trieste. It literally means a gathering of people, usually outdoors.
Movida
Thanks to local news we found out that via Torino, viale XX Settembre and via San Nicolo are “movida” streets. Is that like a dance or something?
Mascherina
Ok, this one’s easy (a mask, yes). By the way, are you using yours?
Distanziamento
Another easy one (which literally means distancing). We suggest it is used when standing in line and on public transport even in non-pandemic times. Just saying.
Tampone
A swab, also used to mean a test. That face your dad makes when you FaceTime him to say “Hey, I just did a tampone!”. Say what?
Da portare via
A take away or what we do with our capo-in-bs when we are in the yellow zone.
Zona rossa, arancione, gialla
Yay, the colors!
Coprifuoco
Literally means: curfew. Somehow, it took us a while to understand it meant just that. It sounds more like a cover. That goes over fire. See what I did there?
Viva la e pò bon
Yes, we learned it this year and yes we love it. The phrase – which reassumes the essence of Trieste – means “live now and later we shall see” what happens. Something we’ve been doing all year long.
In Trieste wishes all its readers a very happy and healthy 2021.
