Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| basket | /ˈbas.ket/ | masculine |
| pallacanestro | /ˌpal.la.kaˈnɛs.tro/ | feminine |
| pallacesto | feminine, rare | |
| palla al cerchio | /ˈpal.la al ˈt͡ʃer.kjo/ (word by word) | dated, feminine |
| palla a spicchi | feminine, informal |
The term refers to the sport (noun).
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term pallacanestro is a compound of palla (ball) and canestro (basket).
Which one should you use?
Pallacanestro is the formal Italian name for the sport, whereas basket is the much more common term used in everyday conversation. Other less common forms include the rare feminine pallacesto, the dated feminine palla al cerchio and the informal feminine palla a spicchi.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Basket is the informal way to say basketball, while pallacanestro is the formal way. Palla a spicchi is also considered informal, and palla al cerchio is dated.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using basket to mean the sport, it is typically preceded by the preposition a in phrases such as giocare a basket (to play basketball). When used as a direct object, it often takes the masculine singular article il, as in amo il basket.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈbas.ket/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The rare term palla a spicchi uses 'spicchi', which refers to 'wedges' or 'slices', likely referencing the shape or way the ball is handled.
- The word 'palla' shares an ancient root with the English word 'bubble', coming from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to blow' or 'to swell'.
- While basket is used for the sport, the word canestro specifically refers to the physical hoop and net.
Examples in context
- È bravo a basket.He is good at basketball.This sentence shows how to describe someone's skill at the sport using basket.Tatoeba #5727925 by Guybrush88, translation #292391 by CK
- Tom ama il basket.Tom loves basketball.This sentence uses basket as a direct object with the article il.Tatoeba #11546188 by Guybrush88, translation #6645903 by CK
- Tu giochi a basket?Do you play basketball?This sentence demonstrates the use of the preposition a with basket.Tatoeba #5727625 by Guybrush88, translation #4062892 by CK
- Oggi ho comprato un biglietto per vedere una partita di pallacanestro.Today I bought a ticket to see a basketball game.
- La pallacanestro è uno degli sport più popolari in Italia.Basketball is one of the most popular sports in Italy.
- Stasera gioco a basket con i miei amici.Tonight I am playing basketball with my friends.
- Sei bravo nel basket, mi sfidi?You are good at basketball, do you challenge me?
- 680 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are talking about their weekend plans.
- ChiaraTi va di giocare a basket sabato?Do you want to play basketball on Saturday?
- LorenzoSì, mi piace molto il basket.Yes, I like basketball very much.
- ChiaraAllora ci vediamo al campo alle dieci.Then we'll see each other at the court at ten.
- LorenzoPerfetto, a sabato allora!Perfect, see you Saturday then!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “basketball” translations and entries basket, pallacanestro, pallacesto, palla al cerchio, palla a spicchi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (palla, al, cerchio) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, cerchio, palla, pallacanestro, pallacesto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
