Italian expressions

Italian expressions are words or phrases borrowed from Italian that appear in English, often untranslated.

Many come from music (forte, piano, crescendo), food (al dente, prosciutto), or culture (dolce vita, bella figura).

Some have become naturalized: ciao as a greeting, bravo for applause, cappuccino at the café.

Others retain their foreign flavor: che sarà sarà, mamma mia.

Italian expressions often convey a sense of style, passion, or theatrical flair that English equivalents lack.