Pettegolezzo vs. gossip
The Italian words 'pettegolezzo' and 'gossip' both refer to the act of sharing rumors or talking about others, but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Pettegolezzo
'Pettegolezzo' is a native Italian word that typically refers to idle talk or rumors, often with a slightly negative connotation. It implies casual, sometimes malicious, chatter about other people's private affairs.
Ho sentito un pettegolezzo su Maria e il suo capo.
(I heard some gossip about Maria and her boss.)
Quel giornale è pieno di pettegolezzi sui personaggi famosi.
(That newspaper is full of gossip about celebrities.)
Gossip
'Gossip' is an English loanword used in Italian, often in more modern or international contexts. It can be seen as slightly more neutral than 'pettegolezzo' and is sometimes associated with celebrity news or social media.
Il gossip sul red carpet è sempre interessante.
(The gossip from the red carpet is always interesting.)
Ho letto l'ultimo gossip su Instagram.
(I read the latest gossip on Instagram.)
Summary
While both 'pettegolezzo' and 'gossip' refer to informal talk about others, 'pettegolezzo' is more traditional and can carry a slightly more negative tone, often used in everyday situations. 'Gossip', as a borrowed term, is more commonly used in modern contexts, especially relating to celebrity news or social media content.