What is 'fool's gold' in Italian?

Answer 1

'L'oro degli stolti' is an Italian equivalent of 'fool's gold'. As is the case with the English phrase, the Italian phrase is a nickname for 'pyrite' or 'iron pyrite'.

The singular definite article 'l'* means 'the'. The masculine noun 'oro' means 'gold'. The word 'degli'combines the preposition 'di' with the masculine plural definite article 'gli' to mean 'of, from the'. The masculine adjective/noun 'stolti' means 'foolish, silly'.

All together, they're pronounced 'LOH-roh DEH-lyee STOHL-tee'.

*The masculine singular definite article actually is 'il'. But the vowel 'i' drops before a noun that begins with a vowel. The temporary nature of that drop is indicated by an apostrophe after the 'l': 'l'oro'.