mattone
/matˈto.ne/
The Italian word for "brick" is mattone.
mattone refers to the building material known as a brick. You can use the phrase mattone a mattone to express the idea of "brick by brick" or "one brick at a time".
Meaning: a building material (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of mattone is mattoni.
How do you pronounce it?
The word consists of 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The pronunciation is /matˈto.ne/.
Did you know?
- In Italian slang, calling someone a mattone is a way of saying they are incredibly boring or a 'bore'.
- The word mattone may have evolved from the Latin word maltha, which referred to a type of cement or mortar rather than the brick itself.
- In a sporting context, particularly in football, mattone can be used to describe a very heavy, clumsy player who lacks agility.
Examples in context
- Ho comprato un mattone per riparare il muretto.I bought a brick to repair the small wall.
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are at a construction site.
- GiuliaFrancesco, ti serve un altro mattone?Francesco, do you need another brick?
- FrancescoSì, Giulia, per favore.Yes, Giulia, please.
- GiuliaEccone uno nuovo.Here is a new one.
- FrancescoGrazie, questo mattone è molto pesante.Thanks, this brick is very heavy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mattone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mattone, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
