bruto
/ˈbru.to/
The Italian word bruto means gross, used to describe a weight or amount before any deductions are made.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because 'bruto' is an adjective, it must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to bruta for feminine nouns. The plural form for masculine nouns is bruti. The plural form for feminine nouns is brute.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ˈbru.to/. The stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While bruto describes an unrefined amount, the term brutto is often used in the phrase che brutto, which can translate to 'how sad' or 'what a shame' rather than a comment on appearance.
- The adjective bruto is a distant relative of the English word 'brute'. Both words share the same Latin root, referring to something raw, unrefined or savage.
- Although they look and sound similar, bruto and brutto are different words with distinct meanings. While bruto refers to gross weights or amounts, brutto means 'ugly' or 'bad'.
Examples in context
- Il peso bruto è di dieci chili.The gross weight is ten kilograms.
- Il guadagno bruto mensile è molto alto.The gross monthly earnings are very high.
Example conversation
At a warehouse, checking a shipping document.
- MartinaQual è il peso bruto di questo carico?What is the gross weight of this load?
- FrancescoIl peso bruto è indicato qui sul modulo.The gross weight is indicated here on the form.
- MartinaFrancesco, puoi controllare se il numero è corretto?Francesco, can you check if the number is correct?
- FrancescoSì, Martina, sembra tutto in ordine.Yes, Martina, everything seems to be in order.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bruto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bruto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
