arte
/ˈar.te/
The English phrase "art" is translated into Italian as arte.
arte refers to the expression of creative skill and imagination, such as painting or sculpture. It is also used to describe specific crafts or technical skills, for example, arte tessile for textile art or craft.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tuscany, the expression arte fiorentina is used specifically to refer to art originating from Florence.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of arte is le arti. Because arte starts with a vowel, the definite article la elides to l’ before it, forming l'arte.
How do you pronounce it?
arte is pronounced /ˈar.te/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
Did you know?
- In historical Italian contexts, particularly in Florence, the word arte did not just mean fine art, but referred to powerful professional guilds that controlled specific trades like wool or silk.
- In Italian, the word arte can be used to describe a deceptive skill or a trick, such as l'arte dell'inganno, meaning 'the art of deception'.
- The Italian word arte is the direct ancestor of the English word 'artifice', which originally meant 'skill' before it evolved to mean 'trickery'.
Examples in context
- A me piace l'arte.I like art.This sentence uses arte to express a personal preference.Tatoeba #2433358 by Guybrush88, translation #2245930 by CK
- Non è porno, è arte.It's not porn, it's art.This sentence uses arte to distinguish a work from pornography.Tatoeba #1642304 by Guybrush88, translation #1641939 by Spamster
- Tu ami l'arte, vero?You love art, don't you?This sentence uses arte to confirm someone's affection for art.Tatoeba #4202515 by Guybrush88, translation #2858988 by Amastan
- Mi piace l'arte contemporaneaI like contemporary art
- Ho ammirato un'opera d'arte di CaravaggioI admired an artwork by Caravaggio
- L'arte è una forma di espressione meravigliosaArt is a wonderful form of expression
- Il Futurismo è uno dei movimenti artistici più interessantiFuturism is one of the most interesting artistic movements
- 243 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Sofia are visiting a museum in Florence.
- MatteoQuesta è vera arte.This is true art.
- SofiaHai ragione, Matteo, è bellissima.You are right, Matteo, it is beautiful.
- MatteoL'arte qui è incredibile.The art here is incredible.
- SofiaSì, amo molto questo museo.Yes, I love this museum very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry arte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
