Foreign phrases in English.

[Visalakshi Ramani]

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English words of Italian origin.

General words.

81. agio = ease.

82. alarm = to the arms.

83. alert = on the ascent.

84. amigo = (male) friend.

85. amiga = (female) friend.

86. archipelago = chief sea.

87. arsenal = armory.

88. assassin = murderer.

89. attitude = disposition.

90. autostrada = highway.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

91. ballerina = principal female professional ballet dancer.

92. balloon = flask.

93. bambino = baby.

94. bankrupt = broken.

95. Bella figura = impress.

96. Ben trovato = well found.

97. bimbo = child / baby.

98. biretta = cap.

99. bizarre = odd / strange.

100. bocce = ball.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

101. bomb = deep hallow sound.

102. bordello = brothel.

103. brave = courageous.

104. bravo = good, skillful.

105. brigade = troop/ gang.

106. brilliant = sparkling.

107. buffoon = jester.

108. Campo Santa = Holy field.

109. cannon = gun.

110. cappuccino = white coffee.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

111. caravan = party.

112. caress = pat / stroke.

113. carnival = Is meat.

114. carousel = round about.

115. cascade = waterfall.

116. casino = small house.

117. catenaccio = bolt.

118. ciao = hello/ goodbye

119.cicerone = guide.

120. consiglire = guide.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

121. corna = horns.

122. credit = balance.

123. debit = debt.

124. ditto = said.

125. Donna = woman.

126. extravaganza = eccentricity.

127. festa = feast.

128. fiasco = utter failure.

129. Fico = fig.

130. finale = final.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

131.florin = to flourish.

132. fugazi = forged.

133. girandole = pinwheel.

134. giro = tour

135. gran turismo = grand touring.

136. group =band.

137. impresa = business.

138. impresario = manager.

139. inamorata = in love.

140. inferno = hell.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

141. in Petto = in the breast.

142. lottery = raffle.

143. lotto = lot/ site.

144. magazine = warehouse.

145. mafia = aggressive.

146. mafioso = member of mafia.

147. magnifico = magnificent

148. major Domo = Mayer of the place.

149. Mamma Mia = "Mother of mine'

150. Manage = handle.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

151. monster = freak.

152. mustachio = mustache

153. negro = black.

154. nostalgia = homesickness.

155. ogre = monster.

156. parasol = sunshade.

157. pedal = pedal.

158. pilot = pilot

159. piston = plunger.

160. policy = bill.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

161. poltroon = lazy person.

162. pontoon = bridge.

163. portfolio = billfold.

164. providential = security.

165. regatta = race.

166. risk = risk.

167. riviera = coast.

168. scraper = to flee.

169. sedan = chair.

170. sequin = gold coin.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

171. simpatico = sympathetic.

172. skirmish = brush.

173. squad = team.

174. squadron = troop.

175. stiletto = little dagger.

176. strappado = torn, lug.

177. tariff = rate / fair.

178. tifoso = supporter.

179. tinge = to dye or color.

180. tombola = to tumble.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

General words.

181. tombolo = pillow.

182. traffic = to trade.

183. trampoline = spring board.

184. umbrella = shade.

185. valuta = currency.

186. vendetta = vengeance.

187. vista = view.

188. viva = alive.

189. zero = nothing.

190. zucchetto = skull cap.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

Art and Architecture.

191. Amaretto = Cupid.

192. arcade = arches.

193. artisan = craftsman.

194. bagnio = bathroom.

195. balcony = an outdoor area in a home.

196. baldachin = canopy.

197. baluster = banister.

198. biennale = two years.

199. bronze = an alloy of copper and Tin.

200. cameo = a method of carving.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

Art and Architecture.

201. campanile = bell tower.

202. caricature = an exaggerated portrait.

203. carpet = floor spread.

204. cartoon = cartoon.

205. cognoscente = acquaintance.

206. conversazione = conversation.

207. cornice = frame.

208. corridor = hallway / passage.

209. cupola = little cask.

210. curioso = quaint.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin.

Art and Architecture.

211. dilettante = amateur.

212. dome = cathedral.

213. facade = front.

214. fascia = band / strip.

215. fiasco = flop / frost.

216. figurine = picture card.

217. fresco = fresh / cool.

218. fumetti = comics.

219. gallery = arcade.

220. gesso = chalk.

 

[somanathan Iyer]

A nice & useful collection. Thanks.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

Thank you for the feedback! :yo:

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

221. graffiti = scratched.

222. grotesque = incongruous distortion of proportions.

223. impasto = paste / dough.

224. indigo = a color.

225. intaglio = engraving, cutting.

226. intarsia = inlaying.

227. loggia = lodge.

228. Madonna = My Lady.

229. madonnari = pavement.

230. magenta = a shade of purple

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin
Art and Architecture.

231. mandoria = almond.

232. martello = hammer.

233. mascara = eye shade.

234. masquerade = disguise.

235. mask = disguise.

236. medal = medal.

237. miniature = of a smaller scale.

238. model = pattern.

239. Monticello = Little mountain.

240. mosaic = mosaic.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin

Art and Architecture.

241. muslin = thin cloth.

242. ovolo = a convex molding.

243. palazzo = palace.

244. parapet = railing.

245. pastel = an art medium.

246. pergola = a garden feature forming a shadow walkway.

247. piazza = square, market place.

248. pieta = pity.

249. pilaster = pillar.

250. porcelain = ceramic made of a special clay.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin

Art and Architecture.

251. portico = porch leading to the entrance of the house.

252. predella = dais.

253. putto = child.

254. relieve = relief.

255. replica = a copy indistinguishable from the original.

256. rotunda = round terrace.

257. saloon = hall, lounge.

258. sepia = dark brown-gray color.

259. sfumato = shaded, toned down.

260. sketch = a rough freehand drawing.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

English words of Italian origin

Art and Architecture.

261. soffit = ceiling.

262. studio = study.

263. stucco = plaster, putty.

264. tazza = shallow saucer like dish used with pillars.

265. tempera = distemper.

267. terracotta = cooked/ baked earth.

268. veduta = view.

269. villa = manor.

270. virtuoso = moral/ virtuous.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

dear friends,

My next project was compiling English words of Greek origin. But I never knew that approximately one out of every eight words in English is of Greek origin! :shocked:

Considering the number of words in English and the number of words I will have to compile, I gave up the project for good!

Obviously, Greek is the single largest contributor to English. If experts have other opinions, I will thank them for enlightening me as well the other members of this Forum. :nod:

So this thread which was originally started with Latin and French words in mind, but went on to include more languages, is coming to an end.

youngster with time, talent and energy may take up the other languages and continue this thread. :welcome:

It was an interesting and illuminating experience to share these words with you all!

with warm regards,
Visalakshi Ramani. ray2: