MORBIDO
/mòr·bi·do/ [ˈmɔrbido] “mohr-bee-doh”
Words by Bianca Pirrelli
Etymology:
Morbido is an Italian adjective derived from the Latin adjective mŏrbĭdus which literally means soaked, drenched and even unhealthy. Its genesis is the Latin word morbus, that is illness, disease.
Its origin is far from the word’s current connotation: the word morbido has now shifted in nuance and it defines something soft, comfortable, delicate; it also describes a person’s attitude.
Meaning:
As previously mentioned, the word morbido means soft, delicate to one’s touch. Just imagine being in a cozy room of a beach house or a mountain chalet, whichever you prefer; imagine touching the softest blanket while staring at the ocean or while reading by the fireplace. It is that relaxed feeling, just like the word you are pronouncing. Morbido. Despite having a strong rolling “r” in the middle, this word has a delicate pronunciation.
Speaking of delicacy, morbido can be applied when describing a person. One can have a soft attitude, as in considerate, friendly, generous, polite. Referred to a person, morbido can also denote a person who is accommodating, lenient and sometimes even manipulable. Yet, the most common acceptation is someone of sweet character, whose personality is soft and rounded, like a mother or a grandmother. The roundness of this word’s sound reflects perfectly the fullness of the person’s demeanor.
Lastly, one cannot fail to mention our beloved food: a sweet tiramisu is one of the numerous delicacies that comes to mind. Its cream is fluffy and firm, just like our word. Another example can be bread, if we want to stick to the classics; crunchy on the outside and extremely soft, warm, fluffy on the inside. Just morbido!
