Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| schiena | /ˈskjɛ.na/ /ˈskje.na/ |
feminine |
| dorso | /ˈdor.so/ /ˈdɔr.so/ |
masculine |
schiena is the standard, everyday word for the human back. You can also use the related adverb indietro to mean 'back' in the sense of moving away from the front, and the adjective secondario to mean 'back' in the sense of being away from the main area.
Which one should you use?
schiena is the common, everyday term for the human back. In contrast, dorso is a more formal or technical term used for the back or dorsal side of an animal or the dorsal side of an object.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
schiena is a feminine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must be in the feminine form. dorso is a masculine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must be in the masculine form. When expressing pain in a body part, it is common in Italian to use the definite article (la schiena) rather than a possessive pronoun if the context is already clear.
How do you pronounce it?
The word schiena is pronounced /ˈskjɛ.na/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word schiena is a distant relative of the English word 'shin'. Both originate from ancient Germanic terms for the lower leg or a splint.
- In Italian, the expression dare le spalle means to turn one's 'back' to someone, often implying a cold or dismissive attitude.
- Italian uses dorso to describe the back of a hand or a foot, whereas schiena is strictly for the torso.
Examples in context
- Oh, la mia schiena.Oh, my back.This sentence shows how to express sudden pain in the schiena.Tatoeba #6320126 by Guybrush88, translation #5822892 by OsoHombre
- Si stirò la schiena.He strained his back.This sentence illustrates the use of the verb for straining the schiena.Tatoeba #10076672 by Guybrush88, translation #7391176 by CH
- Mi gratti la schiena.Scratch my back.This sentence is an example of asking someone to scratch your schiena.Tatoeba #7097865 by Guybrush88, translation #7078369 by Eccles17
- Tornare indietroGo back
- Ritirarsi all'indietroWithdraw backward
- Tornare di nuovoGo back once more
- Essere di ritornoTo be back
- Torna qui!Come back here!
- Torniamo a casaLet's go back home.
- Tornare indietro nel tempoGo back in time.
- Ritornare alla normalitàGo back to normal.
- Ripensare alle vecchie memorieThink back to old memories.
- Tornare di nuovo sulla retta viaGet back on track.
- Ritirarsi all'indietro di fronte all'ostacoloStep back when facing an obstacle.
- Essere di ritorno in ufficioBack in the office.
- 184 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are at home after gardening.
- SofiaAlessandro, mi fa male la schiena.Alessandro, my back hurts.
- AlessandroTi serve un massaggio alla schiena?Do you need a back massage?
- SofiaSì, per favore, la mia schiena è rigidissima.Yes, please, my back is very stiff.
- AlessandroVa bene, ti aiuterò io.Alright, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “back” translations and entries schiena, dorso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dorso, schiena, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
