Ho paura! I’m scared! Italian Halloween Vocabulary

In this post we’ll learn some Italian Halloween vocabulary. First, we’ll learn vocabulary and expressions related to costumes. Then we’ll learn some vocabulary for how children and adults celebrate Halloween. Finally, we’ll wrap up with some scary vocabulary to get you in the mood for fantasmi (ghosts) and streghe (witches).

Things that go bump in the night

First, let’s talk about costumes. Are you travestendo (dressing up, disguising yourself) as anything this year? Kids aren’t the only ones who wear costumi (costumes). Some of the classics to dress as are una mummia (a mummy), un lupo mannaro (a werewolf), un morto vivente (a zombie), un mostro (a monster), un diavolo (a devil), or un vampiro (a vampire).

But not everyone wants to dress as something pauroso (scary). You could also be uno spaventa passeri (a scarecrow), un stregone (a sorcerer), una fata (a fairy), una principessa (a princess), un pirata (a pirate) or a un personaggio (a character) from a popular movie. Some people get very creativo (creative) and dress as something from evento attuale (current events) or di cultura popolare (from pop culture). Or with immaginazione (imagination), the list goes on, and a lot of the time you have to indovinare (guess) at the meaning of a costume.

• Da cosa ti vesti per Halloween?
  What are you dressing as for Halloween?
• Il tuo costume è fantastico!
  Your costume is great!
• Il tuo costume è molto creativo!
  Your costume is very creative!
• Il tuo costume fa paura!
  Your costume is scary!

Per i bambini (For the Kids)

Now let’s talk about how kids celebrate Halloween. Kids in the US go trick-or-treating, and there’s a lot of Italian vocabulary for Halloween that we can talk about here.  They walk around their neighborhood and bussano alle porte (knock on doors). When someone answers, they hold up their buste (bags) and ask for caramelle (candy). If the person doesn’t give the kids candy, they might get a trick. Since no one needs to give kids any more ideas about marachella (mischief) we’ll leave that to your imagination. Meglio prevenire che curare (better safe than sorry.) Best just to make sure you have enough candy.

• Dolcetto o scherzetto!
  Trick or treat!
• Il ragazzino / la ragazzina ha una busta piena di caramelle.
  The boy/girl has a bag full of candy.
• Quali sono le tue caramelle preferite?
  What are your favorite candies?
• Amo la cioccolata.
  I love chocolate.
• Ti ho fatto uno scherzo.
  I played a trick on you.

Per gli adulti (For the Adults)

Next, let’s talk about how adults celebrate. Halloween isn’t just for kids. Adults also like to get dressed up. Do you wear your costume (costume) to work? Or maybe you go to una festa (a party) where everyone is dressed up. Even if you don’t go to any parties, you probably get a zucca (pumpkin) for a jack-o-lantern. You’ll carve a faccia (face) into it, and put a candela (candle) inside so the face glows.

• Andiamo a una festa in maschera.
  We’re going to a costume party.
• Questo fine settimana, compriamo una zucca.
  We’re buying a pumpkin this weekend.

Ho paura/Sono spaventato (I’m Scared)

Halloween is a great time of year to watch film dell’orrore (horror movies) or maybe visit una casa stregata (a haunted house). It’s fun to urlare (scream), as long as the incubi (nightmares) aren’t too bad. Now that the summer is over and la notte (the night) is longer, it’s the perfect time to visit i luoghi spaventosi (spooky/eerie places) for some good Halloween fun. Walk through I boschi (the woods) nel buio (in the dark), take a shortcut through il cimitero (the graveyard), visit that casa abbandonata (abandoned house) where you know there are probably no fantasmi (ghosts). But you hear strani rumori (strange noises) and see things move con la coda dell’occhio (out of the corner of your eye), so you really never can be sure.

• Questo posto mi mette i brividi!
  This place creeps me out!
• Guardiamo un film dell’orrore.
  Let’s watch a horror film.
• Ieri notte ho avuto un incubo.
  I had a nightmare last night.
• Ho la pelle d’oca!
  I have goosesbumps!
• Sento un rumore strano!
  I hear a strange noise!
• Credi nei fantasmi?
  Do you believe in ghosts?
• Andiamo a fare una passeggiata nei boschi di notte.
  Let’s walk through the woods at night.

Whatever you do for Halloween, stay safe, and buon divertimento (have fun!)

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