This week’s word, orgoglio (ohr-goh-llio), is a very special one. To begin with, it doesn’t come from Latin, but from the old language of the Franks (yes, Charlemagne’s people), and reached us through the old Provençal, orgolh, which looks a lot like our orgoglio. Orgoglio can be a bit tricky to pronounce for non Italians, because of that “-gl” sound, bitter enemy of all inexperienced Italian learners.
The word orgoglio is particularly meaningful this time of the year. In June, pride means Italian pride in the Belpaese, because we celebrate the birth of our Republic. June 2nd is the Festa della Repubblica, which marks the anniversary of the national referendum where our grandparents and great-grandparents chose the Republic as the country’s new form of government.
