Italian word of the day: 'Rompicapo'
This word needn't be a headache.
Learning another language is often enough to make your brain hurt, so you might be glad to hear that Italian has a word for just that: rompicapo, literally 'head-breaker'. (Click here to hear it pronounced.)
It's composed of the verb rompere ('to break') together with the noun capo ('head'), and it's a way to say that something is a real 'puzzle' or 'conundrum'.
Trovare una soluzione a questa faccenda è un bel rompicapo.
Solving this matter is a real conundrum.
If you're talking about the kind of puzzle you actually want to do, rompicapo can mean 'brain-teaser' – a test or game where being tricky is the whole point.
But if it's something that's less welcome, a rompicapo is more like 'a headache'.
Questo lavoro è un vero rompicapo.
This job is a right headache.
Non voglio rompicapi.
I don't want any hassles.
You can equally apply it to the person who causes you such brain pain.
Il figlio è diventato per lui un rompicapo.
His son has become a headache for him.
You can also use the word grattacapo (literally 'head-scraper', from capo + grattare, 'to scratch, scrape or grind') as a synonym for 'hassle' or 'worry'.
Procura continui grattacapi ai suoi genitori.
She is always causing worries for her parents.
But don't confuse a rompicapo with a rompiscatole (literally, 'box-breaker'), which is something – or someone – that really gets on your nerves. In other words, a pain in the neck rather than the head.
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Don't miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day by downloading our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.
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Learning another language is often enough to make your brain hurt, so you might be glad to hear that Italian has a word for just that: rompicapo, literally 'head-breaker'. (Click here to hear it pronounced.)
It's composed of the verb rompere ('to break') together with the noun capo ('head'), and it's a way to say that something is a real 'puzzle' or 'conundrum'.
Trovare una soluzione a questa faccenda è un bel rompicapo.
Solving this matter is a real conundrum.
If you're talking about the kind of puzzle you actually want to do, rompicapo can mean 'brain-teaser' – a test or game where being tricky is the whole point.
But if it's something that's less welcome, a rompicapo is more like 'a headache'.
Questo lavoro è un vero rompicapo.
This job is a right headache.
Non voglio rompicapi.
I don't want any hassles.
You can equally apply it to the person who causes you such brain pain.
Il figlio è diventato per lui un rompicapo.
His son has become a headache for him.
You can also use the word grattacapo (literally 'head-scraper', from capo + grattare, 'to scratch, scrape or grind') as a synonym for 'hassle' or 'worry'.
Procura continui grattacapi ai suoi genitori.
She is always causing worries for her parents.
But don't confuse a rompicapo with a rompiscatole (literally, 'box-breaker'), which is something – or someone – that really gets on your nerves. In other words, a pain in the neck rather than the head.
Do you have an 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 by downloading our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.
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