Italian word of the day: ‘Cotto’

by time news

Literally, the Italian adjective cooked means cooked or baked, which is where we get familiar words like terracotta (‘baked earth’) and panna cotta (‘cooked cream’).

But it also has another common slang meaning (not the one that might immediately jump to the the mind of an anglophone…).

Being cooked is to be smitten or infatuated with someone, to have a big crush on them.

It’s obvious that you’re crushed on Paolo.
It’s obvious you’re infatuated with Paolo.

The sentence doesn’t necessarily need an object – someone can simply be cooked without the need to specify the object of their desires – but if there is an object, it should be preceded by the preposition Of.

I tell you, I’m cooked.
I’m telling you, I’m smitten.

I was into you at school.
I had a crush on you at school.

The girls are crushed on the new neighbor.
The girls have a crush on the new neighbour.

If you want to add emphasis, you can use the slightly more poetic (and less common) crushed in love: head over heels, or desperately in love.

He would never cheat on her, it is crushed sweetheart.
He would never cheat, he’s madly in love with her.

Look, Alba already has a boyfriend whose And crushed in love.
Listen, Alba already has a boyfriend she’s crazy about.

Will Ferrell Crush GIF by filmeditor

Cottawith an ‘a’isn’t necessarily an adjective; you might also see it used as a noun, meaning crush. Just like in English, you have a crushor ‘have a crush’; the relevant preposition now becomes ‘per’.

He had a crush on her from the beginning.
She had thing for her from the very beginning.

I have a crazy crush on him.
I have a huge crush on him.

And your first crush is your first crush.

You will forever be his first crush.
You’ll always be his first crush.

Tell me about your first crush.
Tell me about your first crush.

Now whether you want to tease your friends or declare your true feelings to the object of your desire, you’ll be ready!

Do you have a favourite Italian word you’d like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.

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