Meaning
Something that happens very rarely.
Cultural Background
The idiom shows how Catholicism is part of the 'secular' language. Even atheists in Italy use religious idioms daily. The actual death of a Pope is a massive event in Rome, involving the 'Novendiali' (nine days of mourning). The idiom turns this solemnity into a joke about frequency. In the South, religious metaphors are even more prevalent. You might hear variations like 'a ogni morte di vescovo' (bishop) in some dialects. On Italian Twitter, 'a ogni morte di papa' is often used to comment on rare political agreements or rare sports victories.
Use it for self-deprecation
It's a great way to humorously admit you don't do something as often as you should, like exercising or calling home.
Papa vs. Papà
Make sure you say 'papa' (Pope) and not 'papà' (Dad). 'A ogni morte di papà' would be very dark and definitely not an idiom!
Meaning
Something that happens very rarely.
Use it for self-deprecation
It's a great way to humorously admit you don't do something as often as you should, like exercising or calling home.
Papa vs. Papà
Make sure you say 'papa' (Pope) and not 'papà' (Dad). 'A ogni morte di papà' would be very dark and definitely not an idiom!
The 'A' is optional but better
While 'ogni morte di papa' is common, keeping the 'a' at the start makes you sound more articulate.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct idiom.
Non vedo mai Marco, esce di casa a ogni ___ di papa.
The idiom is 'a ogni morte di papa'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose the most natural sentence:
The phrase is a fixed idiom: 'a ogni morte di papa'.
Match the situation to the response.
Tuo fratello ti aiuta mai con le pulizie?
This response correctly uses the idiom to express that he helps very rarely.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ti piace andare a teatro?' B: 'Sì, ma i biglietti costano tanto, quindi ci vado ___.'
The context of expensive tickets suggests that the person goes very rarely.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Frequency in Italian
Very Often
- • Sempre
- • Ogni giorno
- • Spesso
Very Rarely
- • A ogni morte di papa
- • Di rado
- • Quasi mai
Practice Bank
4 exercisesNon vedo mai Marco, esce di casa a ogni ___ di papa.
The idiom is 'a ogni morte di papa'.
Choose the most natural sentence:
The phrase is a fixed idiom: 'a ogni morte di papa'.
Tuo fratello ti aiuta mai con le pulizie?
This response correctly uses the idiom to express that he helps very rarely.
A: 'Ti piace andare a teatro?' B: 'Sì, ma i biglietti costano tanto, quindi ci vado ___.'
The context of expensive tickets suggests that the person goes very rarely.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsGenerally, no. It is so common in Italy that it has lost its religious weight and is seen as a standard part of the language.
It's better to avoid it in very formal meetings. Use 'raramente' instead. However, in a casual office chat, it's fine.
Yes, they are perfect equivalents in terms of meaning and frequency.
Historically, the death was the marker of the end of an era, which happened very infrequently.
You might be understood, but it's not the standard idiom. Stick to 'papa'.
Related Phrases
una volta ogni tanto
similaronce in a while
di rado
synonymrarely
mai e poi mai
contrastnever ever
ogni santo giorno
contrastevery single day
