maschietto
/masˈkjet.to/
The English phrase 'baby boy' is translated into Italian as maschietto.
maschietto refers to a very young male human being. In affectionate or informal contexts, you might also encounter bimbo, which is used to refer to a young boy or a baby boy in a more affectionate and informal manner. When parents or close family members want to express endearment toward a baby boy, they often use the term cucciolino.
Meaning: very young male human being (noun)
Which one should you use?
bimbo is commonly used to refer to a young boy or a baby boy in a more affectionate and informal manner. Additionally, while ragazzo means 'boy', it may sound a bit more formal compared to bambino.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /masˈkjet.to/.
Did you know?
- If you use the term ragazzo to describe a literal baby, an Italian speaker will find it confusing, as that word implies a much older child or even a teenager.
- While maschietto is a precise term, calling a boy maschio alone would sound like you are describing his biological sex rather than his age.
- The root word maschio is used not only for humans but also to describe 'male' animals and 'strong' or 'bold' characteristics in general.
Examples in context
- Guarda il mio bimbo! È così adorabile!Look at my little boy! He is so adorable!
- È un maschietto molto dolce.He is a very sweet baby boy.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Giulia are looking at a baby photo.
- AlessandroGuarda che bel maschietto!Look what a beautiful baby boy!
- GiuliaSì, somiglia molto al papà.Yes, he looks a lot like his dad.
- AlessandroÈ proprio un maschietto vivace.He is a very lively baby boy.
- GiuliaNon smette mai di muoversi.He never stops moving.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry maschietto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
