Word origins

• semolasemolina
• SenatoreA surname from Italian.
• senza sordiniWithout the mutes.
• senza sordinoWithout the mute. Specifically for the piano: with the sustain pedal.
• ServelloA surname from Italian.
• ServidioA surname from Italian.
• SestitoA surname from Italian.
• sfogliatellaA Neapolitan pastry made from puff pastry with a sweet filling.
• sforzandoA mark that indicates that a note is to be played with a strong initial attack.
• sgabelloA kind of stool typical of the Italian Renaissance, typically made of walnut and having a variety of carvings and turned elements.
• sgraffitoA technique in ceramics, art and wall design, where the top layer of pigment or slip is scratched through to reveal an underlying layer.
• sgroppinoA cocktail, originally from Venice, consisting of a mixture of vodka, Prosecco and lemon gelato.
• shableA sabre or curved sword.
• shakeratoA drink of espresso shaken with ice.
• SibiliaA surname from Italian.
• Sierra LeoneA country in West Africa. Official name: Republic of Sierra Leone.
• signorinaA courtesy title for an unmarried woman of Italian origin.
• sinopiaA reddish-brown ochre-like pigment, derived from sinople, used in traditional oil painting and as the cartoon for frescos.
• SiravoA surname from Italian.
• skeeveTo disgust or disturb.
• skeevedDisgusted; repulsed; creeped out.
• skeevies(the skeevies) A feeling of nausea or fear
• skeevyDisgusting or distasteful.
• smaltA deep blue pigment made from powdered glass mixed with cobalt oxide.
• smorzandoFading away.
• SodiniA surname from Italian.
• soffiettaA tool consisting of a metal tube, often swan necked, attached to a conical nozzle. The nozzle is used to block the mouth of a glass vessel so that it can be further inflated by blowing into the tube.
• soffioneA fumarole.
• soffrittoA fried mixture of chopped onions, carrots and celery, used as the beginning point of a dish, especially in Italian cuisine; may also contain garlic, shallot, and leek.
• soldatoA member of the lowest tier of the Italian Mafia.
• solfeggioSynonym of solfège.
• SolomitaA surname from Italian.
• soppressataAny of various types of Italian dry-cured pork salami.
• SorbelloA surname from Italian.
• SorciA surname from Italian.
• sordineA mute for musical instruments.
• sordinoSynonym of sordine.
• sorgosorghum
• SortinoA surname from Italian.
• sortitaThe air sung by any of the principal characters in an opera on entering.
• sotto voceIn soft tones; quiet.
• SozziA surname from Italian.
• spadonaA wing feather from a juvenile ostrich.
• spaghettoA single strand of spaghetti.
• SpallaA surname from Italian.
• SpalloneA surname from Italian.
• SpampinatoA surname from Italian.
• SpanevelloA surname from Italian.
• SparacioA surname from Italian.
• SparanoA surname from Italian.
• SpatolaA surname from Italian.
• specchiaA megalithic pile of stones found in the Salento region of Italy.
• SperandioA surname from Italian.
• SperdutoA surname from Italian.
• speronaraA small, usually single-masted, sailing boat, used especially for transport between Sicily and Malta, remaining in use along the coast of Sicily until the mid-20th century.
• spezzatoAn outfit that combines a suit jacket of one color or style and pants of another.
• spiccatoDetached; separated; with every note performed in a distinct and pointed manner.
• SpicuzzaA surname from Italian.
• SpinaleA surname from Italian.
• spiraliPasta in the form of twisted tubes.
• spiritosoIn a lively or spirited manner
• SpizzirriA surname from Italian.
• spolveroSynonym of pouncing (“type of reproduction by means of powder”).
• SpositoA surname from Italian.
• sprezzaturaThe art of performing a difficult task so gracefully that it looks effortless; calculated nonchalance.
• SputoreA surname from Italian.
• squaccoA species of pond heron, Ardeola ralloides, which is small, and brown and white in colour; it is found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe.
• squadrismA policy of violence by squads of Fascists in Italy after the First World War.
• squadristaA member of an Italian fascist squad; a blackshirt.
• SquillaceA surname from Italian.
• SquitieriA surname from Italian.
• StaffieriA surname from Italian.
• StagniA surname from Italian.
• staiofanega (various units of dry capacity and land area)
• StangoA surname from Italian.
• StanzioneA surname from Italian.
• StassiA surname from Italian.
• stendoa magazine that holds more cartridges than is standard, esp. that of a Glock handgun.
• stile concertatoAn early Baroque style of music in which groups of instruments or voices share a melody, usually in alternation, and almost always over a basso continuo.
• stiratoA type of Italian baguette bread.
• stornelloAn Italian lyric poem or folk song.
• stracciatellaAn Italian soup consisting of a meat broth and small shreds of an egg-based mixture, prepared by drizzling the mixture into boiling broth and stirring.
• StrangioA surname from Italian.
• strappadoA form of torture in which the victim is hung from the ceiling by a rope attached to the hands, which are tied together behind the victim's back.
• strettoThe presence of two close or overlapping statements of the subject of a fugue, especially towards the end.
• StricchiolaA surname from Italian.
• strichettipasta in the shape of butterflies or bow ties, similar to farfalle.
• stringendoA passage in music to be played gradually faster; a section of music with in which the tempo slowly increases.
• StrolloA surname from Italian.
• strozzapretiAn elongated form of hand-rolled pasta.
• StruzzieriA surname from Italian.
• studioloA study (room).
• stufaA fumarole
• sul tastoBowed near the fingerboard for the duration of a passage
• suppli al telefonoA type of rice croquettes filled with mozzarella and deep-fried.
• supracargoAn officer on board a merchant ship who is in charge of the cargo and its sale; also, if there are two of such officers, the senior one, the other being the subcargo.
• SuraceA surname from Italian.
• SurianoA surname from Italian.
• TagliaferroA surname from Italian.
• tagliatellaA piece of tagliatelle.