Certain words in the English language make me cringe. The short, staccato sound of them wrinkles my nose, puckers my lips, and stabs my ears. One of the two most wince-worthy in my book of offending words has recently sent me on a quest to finding an acceptable replacement even though the short burst that thrusts forth from pressed lips when expressing it ‘speaks’ for its meaning.
Once I’d set my intention, it didn’t take long. I already knew a German substitute was out. Too sharp. Too similar. The French word didn’t strike the right chord, either. Then I hit the mother lode. Italian. It’s not only a tolerable word in this melodic and passionate language, it makes me want to scent it with lavender oil and bathe in its languid luxury. See if you agree…
Ohhhh, rilassati – é solo una scoreggia. Isn’t it delicious? Scoreggia. Say it out loud. Ahhh, the lilting cadence.
Check this one out – Lei assomiglia ad una scoreggia in una scarpa. The words dance off your tongue, don’t they?
Even if you don’t speak Italian and simply sound it out, the sing-song rhythm, gently undulates off the tongue – Potresti provare a fare un caffé che non sia una scoreggia in faccia come questo.
The language is lyrical and enchanting. It makes the English version sound like a string of sour notes tooting from a bass trombone…Oh, relax. It’s only a fart. She looks like someone farted in a shoe. You can try and make me some coffee that doesn’t taste like a fart in the face.
Apparently, regardless of language, the word stops wild animals in their tracks.
L’hai sentito? È la scoreggia agonizzante del cinghiale morente!
Did you hear that? It’s the ever-loving death fart of a warthog!
RUN, mio piccolo elefante! RUN!
❤ May all your quests be fulfilled with joy and laughter today ❤
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner 
STTTAAAAPP! Hahahah. This was so funny. Thank you. I needed this today – and every day!
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🙂 Thanks Angie!
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Interesting post Donna
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Thank you, Jacob.
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Scoreggia! Ouch. It scorches like a jalapeno and squeezes like fresh lemonade. It feels like — okay, maybe I better stop. But its a brilliant word and a worthy competitor to its Anglo-Saxon dominatrix. You are a root-toot-tootin’ hoot, Donna. Good one!
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Thanks, Susanne! Nice to hear I didn’t blow it 😉
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Love it.
I wonder if my rising 7th grader learned scoreggia yet in his Italian class. I’m sure he’ll welcome this one on a vocabulary card!
To add, some Welsh friends told me that the “F” word in the UK is “trump.” 🙂
xo
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Thanks, Jennifer. If I can make a 7th grader happy, I’m happy too. And as for the ‘t’ word…a cloud of noxious gas kinda fits, right?
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Have you ever heard an elephant trump?
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No, have you? 🙂
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Nope 🙂
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Funny! I have to ask my husband who learned Italian in college if he remembers this–I know curse words tended to stick with him. 🙂
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Gas might not make the same impression as the ‘other’ noxious ones. But then again… Thanks for stopping by, Ellen!
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Your prediction was correct–he did not remember!
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Well now he can add it to his already colorful vocabulary… 😉
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Now this is classic
Neither too strong, nor too weak
But some perfect scoreggia music! 🙂
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It was a fun one to write. Thank you. 🙂
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