“La Casa” (The House) by Sergio Endrigo (1969)
How Vinícius de Moraes Transformed Children’s Verses Into Cross-Cultural Music This song was composed by Vinícius de Moraes with Italian lyrics by Sergio Bardotti, performed … Read more
Italian Language
Learn Italian beyond the textbook. Our new section offers unique articles, fun games, classic songs, and interactive tools to master the language’s weird and wonderful side.
“Cane e Gatto” (Dog and Cat)
The Zecchino d’Oro song where meowing dogs and barking cats became childhood favorites In this Italian song performed by Rosalba Labile and Carla Tommolini, presented … Read more
Stella Stellina – Star, Little Star
Stella Stellina and the Forgotten Voice Behind Italy’s Beloved Lullaby Stella Stellina is a nursery rhyme written by Lina Schwarz, an Italian poet and translator, … Read more
“Se Sei Felice tu lo Sai Batti le Mani” (Italian version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
Se Sei Felice tu lo Sai Batti le Mani: The Italian Children’s Song with Soviet Connections This is a popular recursive children’s song from English-speaking … Read more
Pimpirulin: The Italian Nursery Rhyme That Evolved with Aviation History
Pimpirulin and His Missing Apple: Inside Italy’s Beloved Folk Rhyme This is a short Italian folk rhyme, often recited by children. The nursery rhyme has … Read more
“Giro Giro Tondo” (Round and Round)
Giro Giro Tondo and Ring a Ring o’ Roses Reveal Centuries of Childhood Mystery The girotondo is a children’s game where kids hold hands and … Read more
“La Canzone della Felicità” (The Happiness Song)
Scout leaders across Italy rely on this interactive tune to energize young participants This is a song used in scout environments as a community song, … Read more
La Bella Lavanderina – The pretty little washerwoman
An Italian Nursery Rhyme’s Simple Dance This traditional Italian nursery rhyme has many regional variations in the main character’s name (the “lavanderina” sometimes becomes “Maria … Read more
Apetta – Italian Spelling Bee–style daily word game
A daily Italian word game that challenges players to form words from seven letters. Apetta is a free, browser-based word game inspired by Spelling Bee … Read more
“A Caval Donato Non Si Guarda In Bocca” Meaning
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth The Italian proverb “A caval donato non si guarda in bocca” (in Latin: Noli equi dentes inspicere … Read more
Sabir: the Mediterranean lingua franca
The Origins and Evolution of Sabir: A Pidgin Idiom in Mediterranean Ports. The Mediterranean lingua franca, also known as sabir, was a pidgin idiom spoken … Read more
The Etymology of the Word “Ciao”
The Linguistic Journey of ‘Ciao’: From Venetian Reverence to Global Informality. The word Ciao is the most common form of friendly and informal greeting in … Read more