larricciarsi

Larricciarsi is commonly encountered in Italian as a nonstandard or misspelled form of l'arricciarsi, the reflexive verb arricciarsi meaning to curl oneself or to become curled. In standard Italian, the correct infinitive is arricciarsi, and when used as a noun meaning “the curling,” the form is l'arricciarsi (with an apostrophe). The spelling larricciarsi without the apostrophe is generally considered incorrect in formal writing, though may appear in informal texts or typographical errors.

Etymology and related forms: Arricciarsi derives from arricciare (to curl, crimp), which itself comes from riccio (curl, lock). The prefix is not a productive new prefix but part of the verb’s root evolution, indicating the action of making something curl. The related noun l'arricciarsi designates the act or result of curling, as in the curling of hair, fabric, or facial features.

Usage: Arricciarsi is used to describe things that curl or become curled. Examples include natural hair or artificially curled hair, fabric that puckers or crinkles, and parts of the body whose features take a curled shape. Typical sentences might be: I capelli si sono arricciati al sole (The hair curled in the sun). La stoffa si è arricciata (The fabric has crinkled). Il naso si è arricciato in espressione di disgusto (The nose wrinkled in disgust). In figurative use, l'arricciarsi can denote a tightening or wrinkling of surfaces or expressions.

See also: arricciare, riccio, arricciatura (curling), origini delle parole per ulteriori etimologie.