False friendPlaces
Italian
Magazzino
Meaning: Actually means 'warehouse' or 'storeroom'. A magazine (periodical) is una rivista.
Looks like: Magazine
Origin: From Arabic makhazin, 'storehouses' — both English 'magazine' and Italian 'magazzino' mean storehouse, but English also named the printed 'storehouse of articles' after it.
More Italian false friends
- Conveniente Actually means 'affordable', 'good value', or 'suitable'. È conveniente = It's a good dea…
- Morbido Actually means 'soft', 'gentle', or 'smooth'. Una voce morbida = a gentle, smooth voice.
- Fame Actually means 'hunger'. Ho fame = I'm hungry. For fame (renown), say fama.
- Caldo Actually means 'hot' (or a hot broth). Cold is freddo.
- Bravo Actually means 'good, skilled, well-behaved'. For brave, say coraggioso.
- Camera Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Trentatré trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatré trotterellando. An unbroken stampede of 'tr' and 't'.
- Tigre contro tigre, tigre contro un'altra tigre. Pure 't/ig/re' drill — short and merciless; the double-g demands a crisp Italian stop.
- Apelle figlio di Apollo fece una palla di pelle di pollo e tutti i principi della città di Capua la palpeggiarono. A wall of 'p/ll/l/a' that seems to grow longer as you speak it faster.
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