Many words of Italian origin have been incorporated into the English language over the years. Some of these include gondola, regatta, fresco, vendetta, broccoli, volcano, basilica, stucco, terracotta, and inferno . In music, one finds numerous Italian words, such as concerto, sonata, tempo, aria, allegro, staccato, andante, and lento . With some studying and a good sense of humor, English speakers can usually pick up Italian with relative ease. One thing to watch out for, though, is false cognates.
Cognates are words that have approximately the same spelling and meaning in two different languages.
There are many true cognate words in English and Italian, but there are also a number of Italian words that can fool you by their false resemblance to English. If you use the word morbido to describe something gruesome, you are really saying that it is soft . And if you ask for confetti at a party, you may be surprised when you are given sugar coated almonds. The formal is used to show respect and should be used when speaking with people outside of your circle of family and friends. Italian is pleasing to the ear, even to those who do not understand a word of the language.