tiralatte
/ˌti.raˈlat.te/masculine
The English phrase 'breast pump' is tiralatte in Italian.
tiralatte refers to a device used to extract breast milk.
Meaning: device used to extract breast milk (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
tiralatte is an invariable noun. This means the word itself does not change when it becomes plural. You only change the article, such as in i tiralatte for 'the breast pumps'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /ˌti.raˈlat.te/.
Did you know?
- The word latte is also the name for the coffee drink 'latte' in English, but in Italy, ordering just 'un latte' will get you a plain glass of milk, not a caffeinated beverage.
- The Italian language uses the word latte to describe the white color of milk, but it also appears in the name of our galaxy, la Via Lattea, meaning 'the Milky Way'.
- The literal translation 'pull-milk' reflects the physical action of the manual versions of the device. Even for modern electric models, the name remains rooted in this primitive mechanical action.
Examples in context
- Ho comprato un nuovo tiralatte.I bought a new breast pump.
- Il tiralatte è sul tavolo.The breast pump is on the table.
- Devi pulire bene il tiralatte.You need to clean the breast pump well.
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are in their living room.
- ChiaraAlessandro, dov'è il tiralatte?Alessandro, where is the breast pump?
- AlessandroÈ in borsa, Chiara.It is in the bag, Chiara.
- ChiaraGrazie, ne ho bisogno adesso.Thanks, I need it now.
- AlessandroPrendo subito il tiralatte per te.I will get the breast pump for you right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breast pump” translations and entries tiralatte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
