Which Way to Rome
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Travel in Italy
  • Thoughts Outside of Italy
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
  • Coming Soon
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Travel in Italy
  • Thoughts Outside of Italy
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
  • Coming Soon

Which Way to Rome

the magic of getting lost but finding home wherever you are

Word of the Day: Squillo

written by January 19, 2012

Apart from sounding like some dirty act, ‘squillo‘ is one of the most useful words in the Italian vocabulary, in my opinion. What does it mean, you ask?! Well since there is no exact translation into English, it means, ‘call someone on his or her cellphone, let it ring 1-3 times, and then hang up.’ This will let your friend know that you have arrived at your previously agreed upon destination.

Squillo, meaning a ring or a buzz, comes from the Italian verb, ‘squillare,‘ to ring.
Rather than picking up the phone and having the 15 second conversation: ‘I’m here,’ ‘OK, I’m coming,’ you can simply say ‘Ti faccio uno squillo,’ or, ‘I’ll squillo you,’ then ring ’em up when you have arrived, to let them know you’re there. And done!

You may ask why someone would want avoid the short phone call exchange of, ‘I’m here, come out.’  Well, not everyone is as annoyingly responsible as me: a girl with an actual cell phone plan, with minutes available every month, paid automatically from my bank account. Most people in Italy have a pay-as-you go plan, and 90% of those people never recharge their phones. Meaning, no one wants to actually place a phone call and lose those euros, when they can just call and hang up, giving you the same message. Either that, or it’s just faster to buzz a few times and hang up…

PS-beware the wrath of one squillo-ing you, if you actually pick up the phone call, instead of letting it ring!

italian vocablearn italianLearning Italianphones in italyword of the day
4 comments
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

previous post
Zvia Talks to Romans: Juliana, Saleswoman
next post
You Can-Can Make Your Way to the Folies Bergère Exhibit

You may also like

Word of the Day: Rincoglionito

May 9, 2012

Word of the Day: Boh!

February 15, 2012

The foolish fish of April

April 1, 2014

Word of the Day: Ammazza

January 26, 2012

Word of the Day: Snutellare

June 19, 2012

Words of the Day: Rimorchiare, Acchiappare, Abbordare

May 11, 2012

Word of the Day: Abbronzata

June 25, 2013

Word of the Day: Arrangiare

May 25, 2012

The table cloth is not the garlic: Italian...

March 17, 2014

Word of the Day: Tajà

March 21, 2012

Word of the Day: Rincoglionito

May 9, 2012

Word of the Day: Boh!

February 15, 2012

The foolish fish of April

April 1, 2014

Word of the Day: Ammazza

January 26, 2012

Word of the Day: Snutellare

June 19, 2012

Words of the Day: Rimorchiare, Acchiappare, Abbordare

May 11, 2012

Word of the Day: Abbronzata

June 25, 2013

Word of the Day: Arrangiare

May 25, 2012

The table cloth is not the garlic: Italian...

March 17, 2014

Word of the Day: Tajà

March 21, 2012

4 comments

L’ANSIA DELLO SQUILLO FANTASMA « annalisabarbier March 9, 2012 - 8:58 pm

[…] Word of the Day: Squillo (whichwaytorome.com) […]

Reply
David Roddis March 29, 2017 - 11:35 pm

Not sure if this blog is still being maintained, but I’ll assume it is. This was an interesting meaning to discover of the word “squillo” – I wonder if you know that it also has a very specific meaning in opera?

“Squillo” is the quality of an opera singer’s voice that gives it a “ring” or “trumpet-like” edge that enables singers to project their lyrical sound so that it has presence even over a full orchestra. Pavarotti is probably the most famous example, but every first-rate opera singer has “squillo”. There, now I learned something and maybe you did, too!

Best wishes from Toronto
DR

Reply
Young in Rome March 30, 2017 - 11:01 am

Hi David, indeed, the blog is still alive and well – and thank you, I did not know that! I believe it all comes from the same base of the Italian word. Thanks for sharing, awesome way to start the day!

Stay warm in Canada!

Flavia

Reply
myhomefoodthatsamore March 30, 2017 - 2:05 pm

Squillare must surely have some affinity with the English ‘squeal’. Squillo also means ‘shrill’. Una voce squillante … A squillo girl is a call girl.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

About

Welcome to Which Way to Rome!

This blog is a notebook for the Eternal City, a written and visual adventure for those constantly searching for that elusive Roman light and the perfect espresso. You can find local recommendations for exploring Italy’s capital, and lots of pictures and stories from Italy and around the world. Have a click around: you’ll find favorite tours and places to go, exciting things happening now in Rome, day trips, hidden gems, and, of course, gelato recommendations.

SUBSCRIBE

Join 9,000+ subscribers and sign up to Which Way to Rome for new blog posts, tips and new photos. Let’s stay updated!

On Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Email
Promotion Image

THOUGHTS OUTSIDE OF ITALY

Promotion Image

PORTFOLIO

Popular Posts

  • 1

    A last post and an exciting announcement from Rome!

    May 2, 2025
  • 2

    Name change! Young in Rome becomes Which Way to Rome

    January 8, 2018
  • 3

    Things to do in Rome: attend a Virtuosi opera performance in a splendid church

    January 6, 2018
  • 4

    The subtitle of ‘The Italian Aunt’ is…

    December 6, 2017
  • 5

    Leore Worried About Time: An Italy Short Story

    October 23, 2017
  • 6

    Luxury is a state of mind: a review of The Cheat Sheet of Italian Style

    March 27, 2017
  • 7

    “A suitcase, perhaps, the past left behind”: a book review of Shadows on the Lake

    February 19, 2017
  • 8

    Waltzing into the Sistine Chapel before it actually opens: a tour with The Roman Guy

    January 5, 2017
  • 9

    Snapshot – Tunis

    April 19, 2016
  • 10

    Managing your subscription to Young In Rome

    October 1, 2013
  • Word of the Day: DAJE!

    February 23, 2012

Tweets

Missing consumer key - please check your settings in admin > Settings > Twitter Feed Auth

Registered Trademark

 

© Flavia Brunetti Proietti and Which Way to Rome™, 2019. Internationally trademarked. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author cited in the specific article and Which Way to Rome™ with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Hi, readers! We love it when you use our content - but we do work really hard on it, so please, do cite us and ask us first! Grazie mille!
Copyrighted.com Registered & Protected 
WABL-QH8C-ULPC-FCZQ
 
© Flavia Brunetti Proietti and Young In Rome, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author cited in the specific article and Young In Rome with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Looking for more of the same?

Search YiR

Archives

My Story

A smidgen about me: growing up bouncing back and forth between Rome and Northern California, I eventually moved back to the Eternal City to finish college and then decided I liked gelato too much to move away again. Today I split my time between Tunis, where I work for an international organization, and wandering around my beloved Roma in constant search of bookstores and the perfect espresso. Read more…

Follow Me

Categories

All the Way to Italy Art & Culture (le cose belle) Day Trips (tutte le strade portano a Roma) Destinations Fashion & Shopping (la moda) Food & Drink (godiamoci la vita) Happening Now (quel che succede oggi) Historical Sites (l'antichità) Holidays & Festivals (festeggiamo) Life Style Memories Music & Nightlife (dove c'è la musica è tutto bello) Opinion & Comment (pensieri e perplessità) Photo of the Week Piccola Intervista Reviews (da condividere) Sports Travel Uncategorized Word of the Day (la parola del giorno)

On Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

Get In Touch

Join 9,000+ subscribers and sign up to Which Way to Rome for new blog posts, tips and new photos. Let’s stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Email
Footer Logo

® 2019 - Which Way to Rome. All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by Katerina Miras


Back To Top