Gattara

Meaning: A woman — often elderly — who dedicates herself to feeding and caring for stray cats in her neighbourhood.

Literally: Cat woman

Origin: Italian gatto ('cat') + feminine suffix; a gentle, almost affectionate social archetype.

More Italian untranslatable words

Meriggiare To take a quiet midday rest in a cool, shaded spot, escaping the fierce afternoon sun.
Magari One word doing the work of 'if only', 'I wish', 'perhaps' and 'you bet' — the tone decide…
Sprezzatura The art of making something difficult look wholly effortless, hiding every trace of the w…
Dietrologia The conviction that the official account is never the real one — that some hidden motive…
Attaccabottoni The person who corners you and holds you in an endless, tedious story you cannot politely…
Menefreghista Someone who has made not caring into an entire stance — indifference as a way of life.

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

Annoiare Actually means 'to bore'. Mi annoi = You're boring me — gentler than 'you're annoying me'.
Firma Actually means 'signature'. Metti la tua firma = Put your signature here.
Magazzino Actually means 'warehouse' or 'storeroom'. A magazine (periodical) is una rivista.

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