myth

falsa credenza, mito

Idea che molte persone credono vera anche se non lo è.

In inglese semplice: Something many people believe, although it is not true.

• That health claim is a myth.
• The study challenged several popular myths about sleep.
• Is it a myth that carrots improve night vision?

Come si usa: the myth that… (The teacher challenged the myth that boys are better at maths.)

Sinonimi: misconception, fallacy

Contrari: fact

Espressioni comuni: common myth, debunk a myth, dispel a myth, popular myth

mito

Antico racconto tradizionale su dèi, eroi o sull’origine del mondo.

In inglese semplice: An old traditional story about gods, heroes, or how the world began.

• We read a Greek myth at school.
• These myths describe the creation of the world.
• Which god appears in that myth?

Sinonimi: legend

Espressioni comuni: greek myth, ancient myth, creation myth

invenzione, finzione

Racconto o idea inventati da qualcuno e non veri.

In inglese semplice: A story or idea that someone has invented and that is not true.

• His account of the rescue is pure myth.
• She built a myth around her mysterious past.
• The missing treasure turned out to be a myth.

Sinonimi: fiction, invention, fabrication

Contrari: fact

Espressioni comuni: pure myth, complete myth, invent a myth

mitologia

Racconti tradizionali su dèi ed eroi, considerati nel loro insieme come un genere narrativo.

In inglese semplice: Traditional stories about gods and heroes, considered together as a type of storytelling.

• The course explores myth and religion.
• Myth often explains a culture’s values.
• She studies the role of myth in literature.

Sinonimi: mythology

Espressioni comuni: myth and folklore, study of myth, myth and ritual