fegato

liver

noun FEH-gah-toh Rare

Origin: From Late Latin ficatum (liver of an animal fattened on figs).

Also means

guts, nerve (courage)

Usage Note

Fegato is masculine: il fegato. Beyond the anatomical organ, it is widely used informally to mean guts or nerve — ci vuole fegato means 'it takes guts.' As food, fegato alla veneziana (Venetian-style liver with onions) is a classic Italian dish. The unusual etymology (fattened on figs) is one of Italian's great lexical curiosities.

Examples

"Il medico ha controllato il suo fegato."

Natural Translation

The doctor checked his liver.

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