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LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Italian word of the day: ‘Tranquillo’

Relax and enjoy this much used word.

Italian word of the day: 'Tranquillo'
Photo: DepositPhotos

We could all do with being a bit more tranquillo.

The word means what it sounds like in English: 'tranquil', calm and peaceful, just like water undisturbed by waves or a place sheltered from sounds.

Il lago, dopo la tempesta, è tornato tranquillo.
After the storm, the lake was calm once more.

Cercava un angolo tranquillo in cui leggere il giornale.
She was looking for a quiet corner to read the paper.

People can be 'tranquil' too, of course, if they're the kind of folks who aren't easily bothered.

È gente tranquilla, che va d’accordo con tutti.
They're easy-going people who get along with everyone.

Here's where tranquillo starts to get slightly broader than the way we usually use the English version: it means something like 'untroubled', 'free of worries or doubts'.

Sull’esito dell’esame siamo tranquilli.
We're not worried about the exam result.

Ho la coscienza tranquilla.
I have a clear (or: untroubled) conscience.

By extension, it can also describe something that's unlikely to cause anyone any worries – for instance, an undemanding job.

Per me importante avere un lavoro tranquillo che mi offre la possibilità di avere tempo libero.
For me it's important to have an easy job that gives me the chance to have free time.

And if you'd like to reassure someone that there's no need for them to fret either, you can tell them to 'be' or 'go' tranquillo. In fact, even just saying the word on its own has the same effect: 'chill out', 'don't worry'. 

Stai tranquillo, ci sono qui io.
Don't worry, I’m here.

– Scusa il disturbo.
– Vai tranquillo, non ti preoccupare.

– Sorry to bother you.
– Don't worry about it, go ahead.

Tranquillo, andrà tutto bene.
Don't worry, everything will be fine.

Do you have an Italian word you'd like us to feature? If so, please email our editor Jessica Phelan with your suggestion.

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ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian word of the day: ‘Rimorchiare’

Here's an Italian word you'll want to pick up.

Italian word of the day: 'Rimorchiare'

If you’ve ever studied for your foglio rosa (provisional driver’s licence) exam in Italy, you’re sure to have come across the word rimorchio (trailer).

Theory test T/F question: ‘The width of the trailer must never exceed that of the vehicle pulling it.’

Credo che dovremo noleggiare un rimorchio per trasportare tutta la merce.
I think we might need to rent a trailer to transport all the goods.

And rimorchiare, along with the more formal trainare, means to haul or tow.

La barca è stata rimorchiata a riva.
The boat was towed to shore.

But rimorchiare isn’t just used to talk about vehicles… it also means to pick/chat someone up or hook up with them.

Sono usciti per rimorchiare.
They’ve gone out on the pull.

Se n’è appena andata con un tipo che ha rimorchiato.
She just left with some guy she picked up.

A rimorchiatore is a tugboat, but can also mean a player/persistent flirt, and rimorchione/a also describes someone who’s constantly chatting people up.

got talent nina GIF by Italia's Got Talent

In some parts of the country, meanwhile, you might hear someone described as a provolone – a big tryhard or wannabe player.

That’s a wordplay based on the reflexive verb provarci, meaning ‘to try it on with’, and the famous Italian cheese. 

È un gran provolone ma non riesce mai a rimorchiare.
He’s a real tryhard but he never manages to pull.

Do you have a favourite Italian word or expression you’d like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.

Don’t miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day: download our app (available on Apple and Android) and then select the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.

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