WORDS added to the Italian vocabulary after the year 2000

The Italian language, just like any other, is continuously enriched by new words and terms. This is due to the fact that our life deeply affects what we say and how we say it. In fact, neologisms include all the words that are part of our everyday life.

NEOLOGISMS of the Italian language

After the year 2000 the Italian vocabulary has been enhanced by the inclusion of many new words.

They come from different worlds, because the language evolves and adapts as society changes.

Let’s see together the most popular terms deriving from different fields!

From the world of the youth:

1) Friendzonare (to friendzone) = to reject a lover and decline him within a simple friendship, as you do not share the same feelings.

2) Blastare (to blast) = in the world of social networks, to respond harshly to someone, attack him, mock him or silence him publicly for having said a trifle, usually from a position of alleged intellectual superiority.

3) Instagrammabile (instagrammable) = a photo, image or video that is suitable to be shared on social media, especially Instagram, because it would definitely attract many followers and likes.

From the world of trap or rap:

1) Dissare (to diss) = in rap, the set of insults and offenses in the lyrics of a song, directed to another specific subject. It comes from the English word “disrespecting”.

2) Sbatti = to get busy, even unproductively, in an attempt to obtain a certain result. Non avere lo sbatti di (Don’t feel like doing it) + INFINITIVE : not wanting to do something boring or heavy. It became famous thanks to the Italian singer Il Pagante.

In order to find out all of the others, take a look at the lesson about the words of rap.

From the COVID-19:

1) Tamponarsi (to swab) = to swab, to take a test to find out if a virus is in the body.

2) Distanziamento sociale (social distancing) = the set of necessary measures to contain the spread of an epidemic or pandemic, such as quarantine of subjects at risk or positive, domestic isolation, prohibition or restriction of gatherings, closure of schools.

3) Didattica a distanza (DAD) (Distance learning) = the mode of online learning and, therefore, not in presence. It spread throughout Italy after school closures in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the world of technology:

1) Virale (viral) = a video or photo content that spreads very easily on the web, often becoming so popular to give rise to a new trend.

2) Memare (to meme) = to create and/or post memes (digital content, often humorous) and use them to tease.

3) Whatsappare (to chat via WhatsApp)= to send, exchange messages, using the WhatsApp messaging application.

4) Disiscriversi (to unsubscribe) = to cancel, revoke an subscription.

5) Spoilerare (to spoiler) = to reveal in advance, in part or in whole, the plot or ending of a movie or TV series.

6) Triggerare (to trigger) = in its most widespread meaning on the web, to cause a reaction of anger in someone.

7) Twittare (to tweet) = to post short text messages on the Twitter platform.

Other new words recently added to the Italian vocabulary:

1) Badante (caregiver) = person without any special qualifications who is responsible for the care of elderly or dependent persons.

2) Brassare = loan adapted from French (brasser), which means to produce beer, with particular reference to the crafted one.

3) Bullizzare (to bully) = to subject someone to a violent treatment, verbally, psychologically or physically.

4) Camperizzare (to camperize) = to change a means of transport such as a van or a car with equipment and tools, so as to turn it into a real camper.

5) Cuociriso (rice cooker) = small appliance for boiling rice.

6) Docciarsi (to shower) = to take a shower.

7) Domotizzare (home automation) = to make home appliances and devices automated through computer and electronic systems.

8) Dressare (to dress) = from the French verb dresser, to arrange a dish on the plate in a pleasant way, paying close attention to its presentation.

9) Eurozona (eurozone) = all of the EU countries that have made the euro their official currency with the Maastricht Treaty.

10) Fasarsi = to adjust to the ways or times of someone or something else.

11) Freezare (to freeze) = adaptation from the English to freeze, in Italian it is used to indicate the act of temporarily suspending an account or an electronic device.

12) Impiattare (to plate) = in the kitchen it means to place a ready preparation in the dish.

13) Impigiamarsi = to put on pajamas.

14) Ludopatia (compulsive gambling) = addiction to gambling.

15) Metaverso (metaverse) = the three-dimensional space within which people can move, share and interact through personalized avatars.

16) Microondabile = adjective referring to a container or wrapper that can be placed into the microwave to cook its contents.

17) Padel = pairs game similar to tennis whose field is bordered by four walls on which the ball can bounce while remaining in play.

18) Pentastellato = adjective coined in 2012 to indicate the members of the political party Movimento 5 Stelle.

19) Restanza = attitude of those who, despite the difficulties and driven by desire, decide to remain in their homeland, with intentions and initiatives of renewal and progress.

20) Settare (to set) = to prepare the settings of a device or a program for its functioning, according to the required standards.

21) Skillato (to be skilled) = competent, experienced, with particular skills or qualifications in a given field or sector.

22) Stacchetto = in radio or television shows, it’s a short musical or advertising interval that interrupts the transmission.

23) Svapare (to vape) = to emit water vapor. It was coined along with the diffusion of electronic cigarettes.

24) Terrapiattista (flat-earther) = adjective to describe those who believe that the planet Earth is flat.

25) Vegafobia/Vegefobia (vegaphobia/vegephobia) = aversion towards vegetarians and/or vegans, carried out with stigmatizing and derisive behaviours.

Well, that’s it for this lesson. Let me know with a comment if you liked this article and if it was helpful. Did you already know all these new words? If yes, how often do you use them? Which ones do you use the most?

Speaking of new terms, you might also be interested in the article on the alternatives to avoid using Anglicisms in the Italian language.

Do you want to expand your Italian vocabulary or revise grammar topics? You can do it on italki, the largest language learning platform! I am an ambassador and I have been working there for several years as a teacher, you can find me by searching my name: Graziana Filomeno!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:17 — 22.7MB)