This may be the most embarrassing Italian language mistake I’ve made and it happened on the first day I arrived in Guardia!

I was with an Italian friend who has a beautiful, large fig tree on his property and I thought “Let me use some of my new Italian words!”
 Here’s what I thought I said:

“I really like figs.  They are delicious.” Mi piacciono molto i fichi. Sono deliziosi.” This is the correct way to say it.  

Instead, what I said was…. “Mi piace fic@. Sono deliziosi”

Other than the numerous grammar mistakes, there is one big problem. “Fico” means fig and “fic@” is a vulgar word for female genitalia. See pic above for a hint.

My friend looked very surprised and he said “Davvero?” Really? I emphatically said “Si!”  He started laughing and finally corrected me. He still makes fun of me today and it is one of his favorite stories.  Mamma mia…

So…. if I can keep speaking after that major and embarrassing mistake on Day 1, you can too. But remember….

Always “Fico,” never “Fic*”!

Comment below with your stories. I’d love to hear your stories.