Villetta vs. cottage
The Italian words 'villetta' and 'cottage' both refer to small, cozy dwellings, but they have distinct connotations and usage in Italian language and culture.
Villetta
'Villetta' is a small villa or detached house, typically found in suburban or rural areas in Italy. It often implies a modern, purpose-built structure with a garden.
Abbiamo comprato una villetta con un bel giardino in periferia.
(We bought a small villa with a nice garden in the suburbs.)
La villetta ha due piani e un garage.
(The small house has two floors and a garage.)
Cottage
'Cottage' in Italian is a borrowed word from English, typically referring to a small, rustic house, often used as a vacation home. It's less common in Italian and usually associated with English or American-style dwellings.
Hanno affittato un cottage in Scozia per le vacanze.
(They rented a cottage in Scotland for their vacation.)
Il cottage nel bosco era molto accogliente.
(The cottage in the woods was very cozy.)
Summary
While both 'villetta' and 'cottage' describe small houses, 'villetta' is more common in Italian and typically refers to a modern, small detached house with a garden. 'Cottage' is less frequently used in Italian and usually denotes a rustic, often vacation-style house, more associated with English-speaking countries.