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ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian expression of the day: ‘Fare strada’

Let us show you the way with this phrase.

Published: 21 November 2023 16:02 CET
Italian expression of the day fare strada
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Today’s expression, fare strada, literally translates as “to make/do the road”, but it’s not referring to laying tarmac or ploughing snow to clear the driveway.

It means to lead or show the way, or simply to make one’s way.

Voi conoscete queste montagne meglio di noi. Vi prego, fate strada.
You know these mountains better than we do. Please, lead the way.

Ci dirigeremo verso l’incrocio e faremo strada da lì.
We’ll head towards the crossroads and make our way from there.

La Nuova Zelanda ha fatto strada diventando il primo Paese a consentire il voto alle donne nel 1893.
New Zealand led the way in becoming the first country to allow women the vote in 1893.

The similar phrase indicare la strada/via – ‘point/show the way’ – can be used in the same way, while aprire la strada is to pave the way (note that these expressions both require the article la, while fare strada doesn’t).

Il nostro governo ha indicato la strada da percorrere per ridurre le emissioni di carbonio.
Our government has led the way when it comes to reducing carbon emissions.

Questa legge potrebbe aprire la strada ad abusi del potere aziendale.
This law could pave the way for abuses of corporate power.

But fare strada also has an alternative meaning: to get ahead or climb a (metaphorical) ladder.

Se vuoi fare strada nella vita, dovrai fare dei sacrifici.
If you want to get ahead in life, you’ll have to make sacrifices.

Mi hanno detto che se volessi fare strada nel mio campo dovrei trasferirmi a Milano.
I was told if I wanted to progress in my field I’d have to move to Milan.

Non vedi che ti sta usando per fare strada?
Don’t you see she’s using you to get ahead?

Add this expression to your repertoire, and you’ll get ahead with your Italian in no time.

Do you have a favourite Italian word 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 new 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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For members

ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian word of the day: ‘Choc’

This Italian word looks like it might be related to tasty breakfast pastries, but you’re more likely to see it in newspaper headlines.

Published: 27 May 2024 10:01 CEST
Updated: 27 May 2024 13:25 CEST
Italian word of the day: 'Choc'

You may come across the word choc in Italian in some unexpected contexts. While it looks like it might be an abbreviation of the Italian word for chocolate (cioccolato), that would be choco.

It’s pronounced much like the English ‘shock’, and has roughly the same meaning.

As in French, choc is used in Italian as an adjective meaning ‘shocking’. But if you’re already familiar with the French usage, be aware that it doesn’t have quite as many different applications in Italian.

And it’s not a word you’ll hear used in spoken Italian very often. You’re far more likely to see it written down, and almost always in news headlines.

In fact, choc is one of those words – like ‘maxi’, ’tilt’, and ‘boom’ – which can be categorised as giornalese: language used almost exclusively by Italian newspaper editors.

You might spot it above reports of, for example, un arresto choc (a shock arrest), dati shock (shocking data), bollette choc (shocking utility bills) or even scontrini choc (shocking bills or receipts).

A headline in Italian local newspaper GenovaToday

‘Shocking bill in the centre: 8 euros for a caffè marocchino’: A headline in Italian local newspaper GenovaToday on May 27th, 2024.

You might also see the English ‘shock’ used as an adjective in the same way. This is especially common in advertising: phrases like prezzi shock (‘shocking prices’ – by which we imagine retailers mean ‘shockingly low’…) can be a little jarring to Anglophones.

While we wouldn’t recommend peppering your Italian-language speech with either ‘choc’ or ‘shock’ – unless you want to sound like an over-enthusiastic advertising executive – at least you won’t be surprised (or shocked) when you see these words used around you.

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

Make sure you don’t miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day by downloading our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.

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