Now that we've furnished so many interesting words and ideas in response to @Adrian's request regarding pseudo-Gallicisms, why not do pseudo-Italian pseudo-loanwords in English? To paraphrase Adrian:
By pseudo-Italian I mean words that are of Italian origin but are not actually correct. I mean Italian-derived terms that have evolved to the point of no longer being common-usage Italian.
For instance:
Gumare: : a longtime mistress; from the Italian comare, which means "second mother" or "godmother".
Best Answer
False Italianisms in British and American English: A Meta-Lexicographic Analysis by Cristiano Furiassi has a list of selected false Italianisms. Lest there be any doubt about what it’s meant by false Italianisms, here it is in the autor’s own words:
And here is a selection of the selection. Opening the list we have:
In English it means in the open air. To express the same idea in Italian you’d say all’aperto (in the open). Fresco is Italian for fresh (of fruit), recent (news), pleasantly cool, etc.
Now in Italain confetti (singular, confetto) are sugar-coated almonds, pistachios, etc; or pills. The little, brightly coloured papers are coriandoli (plural of coriandolo, also coriander).
This in Italian for hell. A large fire in Italian would be incendio.
is Italian for milk. If you want a mixture of coffee and milk in Italy ask for a latte macchiato (stained milk) or a caffellatte.
Ask for peperoni (singular, peperone) in Italy and you’ll get peppers. If it is the spicy sausage you want ask for salame piccante instead.