For the Italian language, or Italian English, we’ve already seen the creative and sparky side of the Romans come out with their “clients gentile” funny photo. Here we have another example, but for something far more serious - parking in Rome. While driving in Italy is bad enough, parking is even worse.

This sign is a true example of Italian genius - a work of art in how to get your point across, finally. The creator of the sign is a shop owner in Rome who was tired of people parking across his shop entrance in Trastevere. This picture has become famous, travelling the web and finishing in newspapers and on t-shirts.

The English part, you guys can happily read. For the Italian part the translation would go something like this:

For everyone else you have really pissed me off. Sunday open.

Only that the “pissed off” bit is far far more vulgar in Italian. We’ll explain another time, but for other examples of Italian swearing, see our introductory video. In the meantime Ivano has kept his sign, this time on the inside of his shop but is thinking of putting it up for auction. We get the feeling he may have more than one interested purchaser!

Ivano, owner and creator of Italy’s famous sign

Continue reading: Driving in Italy: parking in Rome pisses some people off

Far be it from me to criticise Italians for their English, this one comes from the locals themselves. I have been an English teacher in Italy and congratulate myself that none of my students would produce anything quite as creative as this (or perhaps just a few…). The photo forms part of a new series for our friends at 06blog.it, a blog dedicated to life in Rome.

This funny photo comes from a sign in a toilet of a restaurant in via della Pace, in the heart of one of Rome’s tourist districts. Our Italian colleagues are describing it as a “linguistic fantasy”, but one that we appreciate for amusing us.

Source | 06blog.it

Continue reading: Italian English: "customers gentile" and other fables