cerchio
/ˈt͡ʃer.kjo/masculine
The English word 'circle' is cerchio in Italian.
In geometry, cerchio is a noun referring to a set of points that are equally distant from a center. You can use the phrase in cerchio to describe people or objects arranged in a circular formation. Metaphorically, the expression chiudere un cerchio means 'to close a circle', which indicates the completion of a cycle or the solving of a problem. If you specifically need to refer to the circumference of a circle, use circonferenza.
Meaning: geometry: set of points that are equally distant from a center (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cerchio is a masculine noun. Its plural form is cerchi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈtʃer.kjo/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian literature, particularly in Dante's 'Divine Comedy', the word cerchio is used to describe the concentric rings of Hell.
- The Italian word cerchio shares a common ancestor with the English word 'circus', meaning they both trace back to the idea of a ring or an arena.
- While cerchio is the standard word for the shape, the related word circolo often refers to a social group or a club, such as a 'music circle'.
Examples in context
- Il cerchio è rosso.The circle is red.This sentence is useful for identifying the color of the cerchio.Tatoeba #13269989 by Guybrush88, translation #10134031 by espamatics
- Si misero in cerchio.They formed a circle.This sentence is useful for describing the action of forming a cerchio.Tatoeba #4393970 by Guybrush88, translation #1747521 by belgavox
- Erano seduti in cerchio.They sat in a circle.This sentence is useful for describing people sitting in cerchio.Tatoeba #3595852 by Guybrush88, translation #2282395 by Hybrid
- Il cerchio è uno dei concetti fondamentali nella geometria.The circle is one of the fundamental concepts in geometry.
- Ho disegnato un cerchietto intorno al punto di partenza sulla mappa.I drew a circle around the starting point on the map.
- I miei bambini hanno disegnato dei cerchi colorati.My children drew colorful circles.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are looking at a drawing in a notebook.
- LorenzoQuesto cerchio è perfetto.This circle is perfect.
- MartinaSì, l'hai disegnato molto bene.Yes, you drew it very well.
- LorenzoGrazie, Martina.Thanks, Martina.
- MartinaDi nulla, Lorenzo.You're welcome, Lorenzo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “circle” translations and entries cerchio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerchio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
