Standard Italian is the language of the nation, but dialetto is how you really get to know the regions. Here in Tuscany, the Fiorentino is also the very root of the Italian language, which flourished thanks to giants like Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio, who elevated the Florentine vernacular to literary dignity.

While most of Italy eventually had to “learn” Italian as a second language after the unification in 1861, Tuscans were already speaking the prototype. In the 14th century, Florence was a dominant economic and cultural powerhouse, and when Dante Alighieri chose to write his Divine Comedy in the local “vulgar” tongue rather than Latin, he effectively turned the street language of Florence into the gold standard for the entire peninsula.

Today, the local lingo is characterized by sharp irony, the famous aspirated “C” (the gorgia), and a rustic wisdom that has remained intact since before the Renaissance. It’s a way of speaking that prioritizes wit and directness over politeness.

For visitors staying in the heart of the region, such as at Belmond’s Castello di Casole in Casole Val d’Elsa, knowing these key words and phrases is the quickest way to understanding the soul of the region. 

LEVEL: EASY

Gazzilloro

Used to describe a saturated, almost blinding golden-yellow. It’s an onomatopoeic word that mimics the dazzle of the sun hitting the region’s wheat fields or the intense yellow of a broom flower.

Girellare

To wander aimlessly, similar to the more common Italian passeggiare. It comes from girella (a small wheel or pulley), suggesting a person who turns and spins through streets, letting whims pull them along.

Garba

In Tuscany, you don’t merely “like” something; it garba you. Rooted in the word garbo (grace), it implies that something possesses an inherent elegance that aligns perfectly with your own sensibilities.

In ghingheri

Used to describe someone dressed up elegantly. Some linguists trace it back to the German Gingang (a fine checkered fabric), suggesting that to be in ghingheri is to be wrapped in the highest quality materials the merchant-state could offer.

Ci si

The ultimate minimalist goodbye, shortening the reflexive ci si vede (we’ll see each other). It reflects the Tuscan preference for efficient speech—why use four syllables when two and a quick nod of the head can communicate a lifetime of friendship?

LEVEL: HARD

Senza lilleri un si lallera.

Without “lilleri” (coins), you can’t “lallera” (celebrate/have fun).

This is perhaps the most rhythmic way to say “no money, no honey.” It’s an honest, slightly cynical acknowledgement that you can’t have a good time or make progress without the necessary resources. It captures the Tuscan spirit of being blunt about financial realities while still making them sound musical.

Se non è zuppa è pan bagnato.

If it’s not soup, it’s soggy bread.

This is the Tuscan way of saying “it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.” Since traditional Tuscan dishes like ribollita or pappa al pomodoro are essentially bread-based “soups,” the distinction is non-existent. Use this saying to describe two situations, people, or choices that are effectively the same, even if someone is trying to argue they are different. It’s a witty reminder that no matter how you plate it, the ingredients of the situation remain unchanged.

Dare il cacio sui maccheroni.

To put the cheese on the pasta.

The Tuscan equivalent of “the icing on the cake.” It describes something that happens at the perfect moment to complete a situation or a piece of advice that fits a problem perfectly. In Tuscany, nothing is more right than a grating of pecorino Toscano over a hot bowl of pasta.

Poggio e buca fa pari.

A hill and a hole make it even.

A lesson in Tuscan resilience. Life is a series of ups (hills) and downs (holes), but in the end, they cancel each other out. It’s a stoic reminder to stay grounded: the hardships and the easy times eventually level the playing field.

Chi va a letto senza cena, tutta la notte si dimena.

He who goes to bed without dinner tosses and turns all night.

This ancient wisdom was famously recorded by Boccaccio in The Decameron and remains a cornerstone of Tuscan common sense. It reflects the belief that food is the foundation of a stable, orderly life, but it also suggests that if you leave things unfinished or neglect your needs, your mind won’t let you rest.