uccellino
/ut.t͡ʃelˈli.no/
The English phrase "baby bird" is uccellino in Italian.
While uccellino literally means "little bird", it is the standard way to refer to a young or fledgling bird.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of uccellino is uccellini, which is created by changing the final o to i.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the third syllable: /ut.tʃelˈli.no/.
Did you know?
- The Italian word for bird, uccello, has become a common slang term for the penis, making the diminutive uccellino potentially suggestive depending on the social context.
- In Italian, uccellino is often used as a term of endearment for a romantic partner or a child, similar to calling someone 'sweetie' or 'honey' in English.
- In Italian, adding -ino to a noun can sometimes change the perceived 'temperature' of a word, making it feel more intimate or cozy.
Examples in context
- Guarda quel pulcino, è così carino!Look at that baby bird, it's so cute!
- L'altro giorno ho trovato un piccolo uccellino nel giardino.The other day, I found a little bird in the garden.
- C'è un piccolo uccellino nel giardino.There is a little baby bird in the garden.
- Ho visto un uccellino cadere dal nido.I saw a baby bird fall from the nest.
- L'uccellino è ancora molto debole.The baby bird is still very weak.
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are looking at a nest in a tree.
- ChiaraGuarda, Francesco, c'è un uccellino nel nido!Look, Francesco, there is a baby bird in the nest!
- FrancescoÈ davvero un uccellino molto carino.It really is a very cute baby bird.
- ChiaraSpero che la mamma torni presto.I hope the mother returns soon.
- FrancescoSì, la madre deve portargli del cibo.Yes, the mother must bring him some food.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry uccellino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
