scarabeo
/ska.raˈbɛ.o/masculine
The English word beetle translates to Italian as scarabeo or coleottero.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| coleottero | masculine | |
| scarabeo | /ska.raˈbɛ.o/ | masculine |
If you are specifically talking about a ladybug, use coccinella.
Which one should you use?
coleottero is the technical or biological term used for any member of the order Coleoptera, while scarabeo is more common in general conversation or specifically refers to scarab-type beetles.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the technical term coleottero is coleotteri, and the plural of scarabeo is scarabei.
How do you pronounce it?
/ska.raˈbɛ.o/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word scarabeo shares an ancient root with the Greek word for 'crab', a connection that highlights how ancient people grouped hard-shelled creatures together.
- While scarabeo refers to the insect, it is also the primary word used in Italian art history to describe the sacred Egyptian amulets.
- The plural form scarabei follows an irregular pattern compared to the standard plural for masculine nouns ending in 'o'.
Examples in context
- È possibile trovare molti scarabei nel giardino durante l'estate.You can find many beetles in the garden during the summer.
- Ho visto un grosso scarabeo volare verso la luce.I saw a big beetle flying towards the light.
- Guarda quel piccolo coleottero che sta arrampicandosi sull'albero.Look at that little beetle climbing up the tree.
- I coleotteri sono insetti affascinanti, vero?Beetles are fascinating insects, aren't they?
- Ho visto un grosso scarabeo in giardino.I saw a large beetle in the garden.
- Lo scarabeo è colorato di verde.The beetle is colored green.
- C'è uno scarabeo sopra la foglia.There is a beetle on top of the leaf.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are looking at plants in a park.
- GiuliaGuarda, Lorenzo, c'è uno scarabeo!Look, Lorenzo, there is a beetle!
- LorenzoÈ davvero un bellissimo scarabeo.It is a truly beautiful beetle.
- GiuliaSi muove molto velocemente.It moves very fast.
- LorenzoSì, sta andando verso l'albero.Yes, it is going towards the tree.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beetle” translations and entries coleottero, scarabeo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coleottero, scarabeo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
