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Host hedgehogs

Whilst studying in Italy I was explaining to a friend that the family I was staying with was very well-off and so I described them as sono ricci. I got a very surprised look. What I actually said was that they were hedgehogs. I should have said sono ricchi.

Editor's note: The word for rich is ricco, but when you're referring to a group of people you use the plural ricchi. In Italian, ch sounds like k. In contrast, the c in ricci sounds like Ritchie.

Sent by: Mark

Comments

Angela, Felixstowe 2009-02-26

I have always thought it so strange that ricci means curls but that a hedgehog has such straight spines. Also, a sea-urchin definitely has no curls...Boh!!

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Giancarlo 2007-12-24

Ricci is also sea-urchins whose singular is riccio. Same as hedgehogs.

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Franco 2006-02-24

In Italian, 'ricci also means 'curly-haired'.

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