16-05-2025
Italian word of the day: 'Barcamenarsi'
At some point in your Italian language learning journey, you'll come across this curious, if slightly unusual, word. And if you're involved in the world of business or of politics, that point may come sooner rather than later.
Barcamenarsi (hear it pronounced here) is a verb which, as you may have noticed, contains the noun barca (boat). If you visualise a sailboat navigating a narrow and treacherous channel, you've pretty much grasped its meaning.
It's related to the verb navigare (to navigate or steer), but the more specific barcamenarsi implies that the figurative steering is being done very carefully between two sides.
The Treccani dictionary defines it as 'conducting oneself skilfully without taking a decisive or responsible position, so as to avoid harm or danger.'
Somewhat less poetically, in English, we might call this 'sitting on the fence'.
Durante la riunione si è barcamenato abilmente tra le domande difficili dei colleghi.
During the meeting she skilfully navigated difficult questions from her colleagues.
Si è barcamenato alla grande nelle guerre dentro i Cinque Stelle.
He did a lot of fence-sitting during the Five Star Movement's infighting.
You might also find this word translated as meaning 'to get by' or 'muddle through', depending on the context, though it usually implies a bit more skill and determination.
In any case, it's the total opposite of taking a stand or acting decisively.
Another related verb that you might hear in this context is destreggiarsi, which means to juggle or balance two or more things, for example priorities or points of view.
Ha dovuto destreggiarsi tra lavoro e famiglia.
She had to juggle work and family.
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