paracetamolo
/pa.ra.t͡ʃe.taˈmɔ.lo/
The English phrase acetaminophen is paracetamolo in Italian.
paracetamolo is the standard term for the drug used in Italy and most of Europe, whereas English speakers typically use the term 'acetaminophen'.
Meaning: drug (noun)
Which one should you use?
While paracetamolo is the standard term, you may encounter the term Tachipirina in colloquial speech.
How do you pronounce it?
/pa.ra.tʃe.taˈmɔ.lo/. The word has 6 syllables, with the stress on the 5th syllable.
When do people say it?
In Italy, it is common to use the brand name Tachipirina as a generic term for acetaminophen, similar to how some English speakers use 'Kleenex' to refer to tissues.
Did you know?
- The term Tachipirina is derived from 'tachy', meaning fast, and 'pyretic', meaning fever, literally describing a 'fast fever-reducer'.
- While paracetamolo is the drug name, Italians often refer to this category of medication as antipiretic using the word antipiretico, which specifically means 'fever-reducer'.
- The word paracetamolo follows the standard Italian pattern for chemical substances, ending in '-olo'. This suffix is a common indicator for many organic compounds and alcohols in the language.
Examples in context
- Il paracetamolo è utile per il dolore.Acetaminophen is useful for pain.
- Devo prendere un paracetamolo per la febbre.I need to take some acetaminophen for the fever.
- Hai preso il paracetamolo oggi?Did you take the acetaminophen today?
Example conversation
Francesco tells Sofia he has a headache.
- FrancescoHo un forte mal di testa.I have a bad headache.
- SofiaVuoi prendere del paracetamolo, Francesco?Do you want to take some paracetamol, Francesco?
- FrancescoSì, per favore, ne avrei bisogno.Yes, please, I could use some.
- SofiaAspetta un attimo, vado a prenderlo.Wait a moment, I'll go get it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry paracetamolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
