fermaglio
/ferˈmaʎ.ʎo/
The English word "clip" translates to Italian as fermaglio.
Specifically, the term fermafoglio is used in formal contexts to refer to a clip or paperclip designed to temporarily hold sheets of paper together.
Meaning: to cut, especially with scissors or shears as opposed to a knife etc. (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable: /ferˈmaʎ.ʎo/.
Did you know?
- In Italy, if you ask for a molletta to fix your hair, you are using a word that literally means 'little clothespin'. This is because the design of many hair clips is identical to the tool used to hang laundry.
- The word fermaglio and the English word 'fasten' share a conceptual and historical lineage through the Latin 'firmāre'.
- While fermaglio is a general term, Italians often use fermacarte for paperclips. The word literally translates to 'card-stopper' or 'paper-stopper', reflecting a conceptual focus on stopping the paper from moving.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are organizing photos for an album.
- GiuliaLorenzo, puoi fermaglio queste foto?Lorenzo, can you clip these photos?
- LorenzoCerto, dove sono le forbici?Sure, where are the scissors?
- GiuliaSono sul tavolo, fermaglio bene i bordi.They are on the table, clip the edges well.
- LorenzoVa bene, faccio subito.All right, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry fermaglio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fermaglio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
