Italians’ Favorite Word? You’ll Love it.

What could possibly be the favorite word of the residents of the country which has given the world ciao, cappuccino, pizza and gelato? Why, it’s amore.

In a recent poll, amore was ranked #1 by 22% of respondents – nearly three times as much as mamma, followed then by pace (peace) and libertà (freedom). I’m pretty sure my favorite words didn’t rate, though I still love them – andiamo (let’s go) and zanzara (mosquito). Yes, I adore the word for mosquito. I have no idea why. I think it’s all the z’s.