Italian Mal Di

incolpare

to blame

gli anni trascorsi

the years spent

recidere

to cut

cordone ombelicale

umbilical cord

recidere il cordone ombelicale

to fully cut an emotional attachment

legare

to tie; to bind

vizio

bad habit; vice

una specie di

a kind of

una volta per tutte

once and for all

restio/a

reluctant

cocciuto/a

stubborn

rincuorare

to reassure; to cheer someone up

sfiorare il cielo con le dita

to feel unbelievably happy

tanto atteso/a

long-awaited

casella postale

P.O. box

corrispondenza

mail; correspondence

parentela

extended family; relatives

refugium peccatorum

literally “refuge of sinners”; jokingly, a place where everyone’s mail goes

non se ne parla neanche!

absolutely not!; no way!

prendere le difese di qualcuno

to defend someone

raggiungere qualcuno

to go join or meet someone

portare i pantaloni

to be the person in charge in a family

valigia

suitcase

pantaloni usati

used/secondhand pants

documenti di viaggio

travel documents

la vigilia della partenza

the day/evening before leaving

solcare

to go across/down; to streak

effimero/a

brief; short-lived

senso di colpa

feeling of guilt

abbandonare

to abandon; to leave

faccende domestiche

housework; chores

rinchiudersi in un silenzio

to close oneself off in silence

talismano

lucky or protective object

cuoio

leather

intarsiato/a

decorated; inlaid

brontolare

to grumble

avere cura di sé

to take care of yourself

pungente

sharp; biting, especially cold

screpolarsi

to become dry and cracked

irrigidirsi

to become stiff

spalmarsi

to spread cream on oneself

stuoia

mat

capanna

hut

assiderato/a

frozen stiff; almost frozen to death

infilarsi dentro

to get inside

lenzuola

bed sheets

sfottere

to tease; mock

badare a

to look after; take care of

taverna

basement/lower room of a house

villetta

small house or villa

succube

controlled or dominated by someone

cognata

sister-in-law

nipoti

nephews/nieces; sometimes grandchildren

rifiutarsi

to refuse

fare da traduttore

to act as a translator

patatine

cloth shoe covers used to protect floors

tenere in ordine

to keep tidy

riscaldamento

heating

stirare

to iron clothes

nenia

boring, monotonous chant/song

decalogo

list of ten rules

divieto

prohibition; something not allowed

cottura

cooking

impregnare

to fill/permeate with a smell

scia

trail left behind

aromi

aromas

condimenti

seasonings; spices

puzza

stink; bad smell

farsi obbedire

to make someone obey you

essere fuori di sé

to be extremely angry or upset

sgridare

to scold

scoppiare a ridere

to burst out laughing

scimmiottare

to mock by copying someone

eppure

and yet; nevertheless

con amarezza

bitterly; with sadness

proferire parola

to say/utter a word

intrusa

outsider; person who does not belong

con aria sospettosa

with a suspicious look

per educazione

out of politeness/respect

sornione/a

sly; sneaky

ipocrita

hypocritical

tramutarsi in

to turn into

incubo

nightmare

indifferenza

indifference

solitudine

loneliness

colf

housekeeper; cleaner

contiguo/a

next to; adjacent

manna nel deserto

exactly the help or relief someone desperately needs

intento/a a

busy doing; focused on

battere un tappeto

to beat a rug

fare la spesa

to go grocery shopping

al meglio

as well as possible

assimilare

to absorb/adopt into a new culture

esigente

demanding; wanting more

giornata di libertà

day of freedom

riciclare

to reuse

accuse reciproche

mutual accusations; both people blame each other

formulare

to express; put into words

ingrato/a

ungrateful

presso

at; with