Beetle/beetles in different languages

[Marco Floriani]

Dear Richard,

I have read the interesting page about international beetles names;
I have an observation regarding Italian. Many people in Italy actually
use the word 'scarafaggio' for beetle, but this word is better used
for coakroaches, and is thus associated with an idea of filth;

The more general word for 'beetle' is 'scarabeo' - this is the word
used for the game 'Scrabble', for example. And I see that also in
French you used 'scarab?e', so I would prefer the Italian equivalent
of this word to 'scarafaggio'.

Actually, the word 'scarafaggio' is commonly used in Italian also to
refer to the BeAtles ('gli scarafaggi di Liverpool').

Best wishes,
Marco



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Marco Floriani
Via Vigolana 8
I-38057 Pergine Valsugana TN
Tel.: +39 (0)461 510 450 (h 19-20)
e-mail: <marco.floriani at libero.it>
http://www.mtsn.tn.it/bresadola