grana

trouble, problem

noun GRAH-nah Rare

Origin: From grano (grain), referring to the cheese's granular texture.

Also means

Grana Padano (cheese)

Usage Note

Grana has two distinct senses depending on context: colloquially (feminine, invariable plural) it means 'trouble' or 'hassle' (che grana! — 'what a pain!'). As a proper noun it refers to Grana Padano, the hard aged cheese. In some regional dialects la grana also means 'money'. The colloquial sense is the more frequent one in everyday speech.

Examples

"Questa storia mi ha creato un sacco di grane."

Natural Translation

This affair has caused me a lot of trouble.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Reflexive Verbs: Mi Chiamo, Mi Alzo & More

Italian reflexive verbs use mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si — learn the pronouns, conjugate chiamarsi and alzarsi, master your daily routine, and the modal-verb rule.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 min read

ItalianNow

Essential Italian Travel Phrases (With Vorrei)

Vorrei means I would like — the politest, most useful Italian travel phrase. Learn five reusable frames to order, ask prices, and find your way in Italy.

June 5, 2026 5 min read