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ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian word of the day: ‘Sfogarsi’

Let off some steam with this handy Italian word.

Italian word of the day sfogarsi
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Sometimes you just need to vent, cut loose, or let it all out: in other words, as far as Italian is concerned, you need to sfogarsi.

The verb sfogare literally means to release compressed gas or liquid, but also (more commonly) refers to the unleashing of a pent up emotion or energy.

When used in this sense, it’s a reflexive verb – sfogarsi because the release of emotion is something you do to yourself.

That repressed emotion might be frustration or resentment, if you’re angry at someone or something.

Si è sfogata la sua rabbia contro di lui.
She lashed out at him in anger.

Bene – ora ti sei sfogato?
Good – have you got that out of your system now?

But sfogarsi can also mean to unburden yourself, to open up to someone, to get something off your chest.

Ieri sera si è sfogato con me sulla morte di sua moglie.
Yesterday evening he poured his heart out to me about his wife’s death.

Grazie per avermi fatto sfogare con te su Sara.
Thanks for letting me vent to you about Sara.

Just Let It Out Alexis GIF - Just Let It Out Alexis Alexis Rose GIFs
 

Or it can mean to satisfy an impulse or to let off steam by having fun, letting loose, using up an excess of energy.

Dopo questi mesi di lavoro intenso, ho bisogno di sfogarmi un’ po.
After all these months of hard work, I need to cut loose a little.

– Ma cos’è questo casino?
– Sembra che siano solo dei ragazzi che si sfogano per strada…

– What is this racket?
– I think it’s just some kids letting off steam in the street…

This range of possible uses means sfogarsi con qualcuno can mean any of to lay into someone, to unburden yourself with them, or to cut loose with them; the meaning has to be figured out from context.

That makes sfogarsi more versatile than any of its English counterparts, and a particularly handy word to have up your sleeve.

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

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For members

ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian expression of the day: ‘Al volo’

We’re sure you’ll learn this Italian phrase in no time.

Italian expression of the day: ‘Al volo’

If you’ve ever found yourself at an Italian airport and looked up at the departure board, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with the word volo, which is the Italian equivalent of ‘flight’ – but also the first person singular of the verb volare (to fly) in the present tense.

And if you’re a fan of classical music, you may of course have heard of Italy’s famous opera trio Il Volo (‘The Flight’).

But what do Italians mean when they say they’re going to do something al volo (hear it pronounced here)? 

Much like its closest English equivalent, ‘on the fly’, al volo has very little to do with aircraft or flying as it’s one of the most common Italian phrases to say that you’re doing something ‘quickly’ or ‘readily’, often without having prepared it or thought about it much beforehand.

Facciamoci una pasta al volo e poi usciamo.

Let’s cook some pasta on the fly and then get out.

Ho dovuto preparare la presentazione al volo perché non mi avevano avvisato della riunione.

I had to put the presentation together on the fly as I’d not been notified of the meeting. 

But usage of al volo is not limited to practical actions or tasks you may do quickly and without much thought. 

In fact, you can also pair it with the verb capire (understand), comprendere (comprehend) or imparare (learn) to say that you grasped something ‘immediately’ or ‘in no time’, meaning you won’t need any further explanation. 

Tuo figlio capisce tutto al volo. Ha un grande futuro davanti a lui, a mio parere.

Your son understands everything in no time. He’s got a great future ahead of him, in my opinion.

And if you haven’t fully understood or grasped something on your first try (which is painfully likely when dealing with Italy’s infamous red tape, even for locals), don’t worry: you’ll always have the option to ask a domanda al volo, or a ‘quick question’, to clear up your doubts. 

Another popular way to use the phrase is in relation to big opportunities, whether that be in life, in education or at work. So an opportunity that va presa al volo must be seized immediately as it’s too good to be missed. 

Finally, if you’re planning on watching Euro 2024 matches on Italian TV over the next month, you may hear football commentators use al volo multiple times while analysing a match as colpire la palla al volo means to strike it while it’s in the air, or ‘volley’ it.

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

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