Advertisement

Italian Word of The Day Supported by: Fluente logo For Members

Italian word of the day: 'Pettegolezzo'

Jessica Phelan
Jessica Phelan - [email protected]
Italian word of the day: 'Pettegolezzo'
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Have you heard what they're saying about this Italian word?

Advertisement

This word was suggested by one of our readers, who we can only hope has not found himself the subject of it: il pettegolezzo, 'gossip' or 'rumour' (hear the pronunciation here).

Vuoi sentire un pettegolezzo?
Do you want to hear a bit of gossip?

It's usually used in the plural – pettegolezzi – and while in English we'd 'spread' rumours, in Italian you 'do' them (fare).

Advertisement

Fare pettegolezzi non è soltanto una cattiva abitudine: può essere un'attività molto dannosa.
Gossiping is not only a bad habit, it can also be very damaging.

Alternatively you can spettegolare, another verb that means 'to gossip'. (In Italian, verbs formed from adjectives often add an s~: for instance, bianco ('white') becomes sbiancare, 'to whiten'.)

Non fanno che spettegolare.
All they do is gossip.

Someone who indulges in said habit is un/a pettegolo/a.

Era un gran pettegolo.
He was a dreadful gossip.

As you'll have gathered, the word typically has a negative connotation – which has a lot to do with where it comes from. The dictionary says it derives from the Venetian term for peto, or 'fart', in reference to "the verbal incontinence of gossipy people". 

In other words, those who gossip are seen as having a kind of 'mouth flatulence'. And if that's not a reason to keep your lips sealed, I don't know what is.

Do you have a favourite Italian word you'd like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.

Don’t miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day: download our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then select the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also