Espressivo - Sounds Like...

I was going through some terms with a girl in grade 8 (who's only been in Australia a couple of years - English is her second language).

Me: What does tranquillo mean?
Girl: No idea.
Me: Well, if you chop off the o, and the last l, what do you have?
Girl [slowly]: Tran...quil...?
Me: Do you know what tranquil means?
Girl: No idea.
Me: Very calm, serene. [...] What does espressivo mean?
Girl: No idea.
Me: Let's try the same sort of thing... If we chop off the o, what do we get?
Girl: Um...
Me: Espressive...
Girl [excited]: Ooh, espresso!  We get coffee!  Right?
Me: Uh, no.  We need to keep the -ive.  Sorry.  Expressively.
Girl [not nearly as excited]: Oh.