bambino
/bamˈbi.no/masculine
The English word boy is translated into Italian as bambino. Wiktionary also lists maschietto and maschio.
Meaning: male child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bambino | /bamˈbi.no/ | masculine |
| maschietto | /masˈkjet.to/ | masculine |
| maschio | /ˈmas.kjo/ | masculine |
The term bambino is used when referring to a boy who is a child.
Which one should you use?
bambino is the standard, most common word for a young boy. For a more affectionate tone or to refer to a very small boy, you can use the diminutive maschietto. While bambino refers to a child, maschio refers to the biological sex (male) rather than a child (boy).
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of bambino is bambina. To form the plural, use bambini, which can mean 'boys' or a mixed group of 'children'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of bambino is /bamˈbi.no/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word bambino is thought to mimic the very first sounds a child makes, acting as an imitation of baby talk.
- Because bambino is often associated with very young children, using it to describe a teenage boy might sound patronizing or even quite funny to an Italian ear.
- In Italian, if a group consists of ninety-nine girls and only one bambino, the plural noun used to describe the whole group is bambini.
Examples in context
- Non è più un bambino.He's not a boy anymore.This sentence is useful for showing the transition out of childhood using bambino.Tatoeba #380829 by Pharamp, translation #716114 by papabear
- Tom è un bambino timido.Tom is a shy boy.This sentence is useful for describing a boy's personality using bambino.Tatoeba #1544005 by Guybrush88, translation #1025149 by CK
- Il bambino tirò un sasso.The boy threw a stone.This sentence is useful for describing an action performed by a boy using bambino.Tatoeba #1539246 by Guybrush88, translation #1314381 by Scott
- Il ragazzo è molto gentileThe boy is very kind.
- Ciao ragazzi!Hi, guys!
- Il ragazzo è alto.The boy is tall.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are watching children play in a park.
- MartinaGuarda quel bambino con il palloncino.Look at that boy with the balloon.
- MatteoSì, è un bambino molto allegro.Yes, he is a very cheerful boy.
- MartinaIl bambino sta correndo verso la mamma.The boy is running towards his mother.
- MatteoSì, sembra proprio felice.Yes, he seems really happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations and entries bambino, maschietto, maschio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bambino, maschietto, maschio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
