ascia
/ˈaʃ.ʃa/feminine
The English word 'axe' can be translated into Italian as ascia, scure or mannaia.
Meaning: tool (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ascia | /ˈaʃ.ʃa/ | feminine |
| scure | /ˈsku.re/ | |
| mannaia | /manˈna.ja/ | feminine |
All three terms refer to an axe, but they are used in different contexts depending on whether you are speaking generally, poetically or metaphorically.
Which one should you use?
ascia is the most common and general term for a tool used for woodcutting. scure often refers to a heavier or ceremonial axe, such as a battle axe and is more frequent in literary contexts. mannaia specifically refers to an executioner's axe and is often used figuratively to describe a sudden, devastating blow or a threat.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because ascia is a feminine noun that begins with a vowel, the indefinite article una is elided to become un'ascia.
How do you pronounce it?
The word ascia is pronounced /ˈaʃ.ʃa/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The term scure is the direct descendant of the Latin 'secūrem', which is also the root of the English word 'secure'.
- In historical Italian contexts, the scure was often associated with the 'fasces', the bundle of rods and axe that symbolized power and authority in Rome.
- The Italian term for an executioner's axe, mannaia, is derived from the Latin word for 'hand'. This highlights the idea of the tool being a hand-held instrument of fate.
Examples in context
- Ha visto la mia ascia?Have you seen my axe?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of an ascia.Tatoeba #13352409 by Guybrush88, translation #12927809 by rul
- Tagliamo gli alberi con un'ascia.We cut trees with an axe.This sentence shows how to use ascia when describing cutting trees.Tatoeba #11719697 by Guybrush88, translation #3676537 by sundown
- Rodrigo uccise lo zombie con un'ascia.Rodrigo killed the zombie with an axe.This sentence demonstrates using ascia as a tool in a sentence.Tatoeba #12686493 by Guybrush88, translation #11785078 by Amastan
- Il boscaiolo usa un'ascia per tagliare la legnaThe lumberjack uses an axe to chop wood
- È necessario usare la scure per dividere il troncoIt is necessary to use the axe to split the log
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are cleaning up the garden.
- FrancescoMartina, mi passi l'ascia?Martina, can you pass me the axe?
- MartinaCerto, eccola qui.Sure, here it is.
- FrancescoGrazie, l'ascia è molto pesante.Thanks, the axe is very heavy.
- MartinaFai attenzione a dove colpisci.Be careful where you strike.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “axe” translations and entries ascia, scure, mannaia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ascia, mannaia, scure, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
