L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 24 L'Italo-Americano T ranslating a word f r o m o n e l a n - guage to another i s n o t a l w a y s straightforward. An example of it is today's word, sfogarsi (sfoh-gahr- see). Rooted in the Italian word f o r " a r d o r " o r " p a s s i o n " (foga), sfogarsi appeared in our language in the 14th cen- tury and it is commonly used to express the act of venting, releasing tension, or letting off steam. It's the emotional e q u i v a l e n t o f t u r n i n g t h e pages of a book, each page representing a feeling or a worry that is acknowledged and then let go. For instance, an Italian might say, Ho bisogno di sfo- garmi, which translates to "I need to vent" or "I need to let off steam." It's a way of saying that one needs to express their feelings, frustrations, or worries openly, to relieve emotional tension. In English, there isn't a single word that fully cap- tures the essence of sfogarsi. T h e v e r b " t o v e n t " c o m e s close, but it lacks the emo- tional depth and self-reflec- tive nuance inherent to the Italian word because the act of sfogarsi is not just about expressing negative emo - tions, it's also about self- exploration and emotional release. 1 bow, for shooting arrows 3 cousins 8 to have 9 olives 10 among; between 11 (I) hunt 14 seat 16 what; that; who 18 poets 20 raw, uncooked 21 (you/tu) will act 22 turnips Using the provided meanings as clues, search for the appropriate Italian word in the grid 1 lovers 2 crack 4 one 5 beginnings 6 thoughts 7 buckets 12 (I) grow 13 pedestrian 15 (you/tu) elevate 16 (feminine of) raw, uncooked 17 spy 19 anger C o n s i d e r t h i s e x a m p l e : Dopo una lunga giornata di lavoro, mi piace sfogarmi s u o n a n d o i l p i a n o , w h i c h translates to "After a long day of work, I like to let go and relax by playing the piano." H e r e , s f o g a r s i i s n o t j u s t about venting frustration but also about finding a creative outlet for emotional expres- sion and relaxation. In another context, sfogar- si can also refer to the act of confiding in someone. For example, Mi sono sfogato con un amico riguardo ai miei problemi translates to "I vent- ed to a friend about my prob- lems." In this case, sfogarsi conveys the act of sharing one's worries or troubles with someone else as a form of emotional release. This little verb, when you think of it, is very special indeed: it's full of pathos and puts the need to release ten- sion, the importance of self- expression, and the healing power of speaking all together in a short, invaluable word. Ero molto arrabbiato ma mi sono sfogato al telefono con mia sorella I was very angry but I vent- ed to my sister on the phone Non puoi tenere tutto den- tro, devi sfogarti con qualcu- no You can't keep it all bottled up, you need to confide in someone LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE Sfogarsi: a word we need to feel better! © Rachaphak Kitbumrung | Dreamstime.com 1 street 2 black 3 to walk 4 to eat 5 head 6 to listen 7 window 8 school 9 door 10 six 11 kitchen 12 baby 13 chair A C R O S S D O W N ITALIAN WORD SEARCH The solution to these word games will be availeble on the next edition. Games courtesy of Lexis Rex

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