Chicco (transl. Bean, Grain)

🗓️ 6 giugno 2024 — The espresso machine's inventor was born today 173 years ago. Let's celebrate him with today's word!

[KIK-ko]

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NOUN

Bean, Grain.

It refers to the seed or kernel of cereals and other plants, as well as small spherical objects.

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💬 EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Il riso Carnaroli ha un chicco leggermente più grosso dell'Arborio e richiede un po' più di tempo per la cottura.
Carnaroli rice has a slightly coarser grain than Arborio and takes a little longer to cook.

In quel bar macinano i chicchi di caffè al momento.
In that café they grind coffee beans on the spot.

I chicchi d’uva si chiamano acini (⚠️ tricky pronunciation → AH-chee-nee)
Grape grains are called grapes

Quei chicchi di grandine sono giganti!
Those hailstones are giant!

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🔎 WORD ORIGINS

Chicco probably comes from the Latin ciccus or ciccum, meaning "dividing membrane in the pomegranate; a trifle," with the velar maintained for infantile onomatopoeia, or by cross-influence with coccum meaning "berry, granule."

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🤓 DID YOU KNOW THAT…

IMPRESS YOUR ITALIAN FRIENDS WITH CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT ITALY AND ITS CULTURE

Today is the birthday of Angelo Moriondo, the inventor of the first espresso machine.

Then, we celebrate his invention by dedicating today’s word to him and narrating why he chose the name Espresso.

Test your comprehension with this video in Italian (it’s better to watch it on Instagram if you’re mobile), or read the story in English below.

Is the name espresso Italian, French, or English? In 1884, Angelo Moriondo from Turin patented the first machine to quickly prepare coffee using steam and boiling water. Running hotels and restaurants in bustling Turin, Moriondo needed to serve his guests swiftly, many of whom arrived from the railway station across the street.

Thus, he named his invention "espresso," inspired by the express trains of the time, which were known for skipping intermediate stops to ensure a faster journey. The term "espresso" reflects the idea of quick and immediate service, similar to the concept of an "express train" in English, which in turn derives from the French "exprès," indicating something done "expressly" or "specially."

So, what do you think: is its name Italian, French, or English?

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👉 YOUR TURN

Can you use the word CHICCO correctly in a sentence?

Based on the definition and examples provided, write a sentence using today's word of the day and share it as a comment on this post. It is important that your sentence makes sense and shows that you understand the word's definition, but we also encourage you to use creativity and have fun.