ragazzino
/ra.ɡatˈt͡si.no/
The English term "bub" can be translated into Italian as ragazzino.
ragazzino is an informal term used to refer to a young boy.
Which one should you use?
While ragazzino refers to the boy himself, the related word ragazzata can refer to a prank or a piece of mischief often associated with such boys.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of ragazzino is ragazzina (little girl), and the masculine plural form is ragazzini (little boys or little kids).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ragazzino is /ra.ɡatˈtsi.no/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- In many Italian dialects, particularly in the south, a young boy might be called guaglione instead of the standard Italian ragazzino.
- If you call a teenager a ragazzino, you might sound patronizing or even condescending, as the suffix -ino can make the person sound much younger than they actually are.
- The suffix -ino in ragazzino can change the perceived 'size' of a concept, not just a person, implying something is small or trivial.
Examples in context
- Quel ragazzino è molto simpatico.That little boy is very nice.
- Ho visto un ragazzino al parco.I saw a young boy at the park.
- Il ragazzino corre velocemente.The boy runs fast.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are walking through a neighborhood.
- LorenzoGuarda quel ragazzino con il pallone.Look at that boy with the ball.
- SofiaSì, sembra proprio divertirsi.Yes, he seems to be having fun.
- LorenzoÈ un ragazzino molto energico.He is a very energetic boy.
- SofiaÈ vero, non si ferma mai.It's true, he never stops.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ragazzino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
