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 is used to refer to a male child. For older boys (adolescents or teenagers), Italians typically use ragazzo instead of bambino.
Which one should you use?
While bambino refers to a male child, maschio refers to the biological sex of a male (e.g., a male animal or a male human). Maschietto is a diminutive form of maschio used to express endearment or to emphasize that the boy is small/young.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of bambino is bambina, meaning a girl. The plural of bambino is bambini.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /bamˈbi.no/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word maschio is used not only for humans and animals but also to describe a 'male' connector or plug in technical Italian.
- The word bambino is thought to be an onomatopoeia, mimicking the repetitive, stammering sounds a baby makes when first learning to speak.
- Calling a grown man a bambino is a common way in Italian to describe someone who is acting immature or childish.
Examples in context
- Non è più un bambino.He's not a boy anymore.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the word bambino in a negative statement.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 quality of a 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 bambino.Tatoeba #1539246 by Guybrush88, translation #1314381 by Scott
- Ho trovato un ragazzo gentile che mi ha aiutato a trovare la strada.I found a kind boy who helped me find the way.
- Ciao ragazzi, questo è il mio fratellino!Hi guys, this is my little brother!
- Ieri ho visto un gruppo di ragazzini che giocavano a calcio nel parco.Yesterday, I saw a group of boys playing soccer in the park.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are watching children in a playground.
- GiuliaGuarda quel bambino, corre molto veloce!Look at that boy, he runs very fast!
- MatteoSì, è un bambino molto attivo.Yes, he is a very active boy.
- GiuliaMatteo, hai visto dove è andato?Matteo, did you see where he went?
- MatteoNo, non l'ho visto passare.No, I didn't see him pass by.
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.
