scarafaggio
/ska.raˈfad.d͡ʒo/masculine
The English word cockroach is translated into Italian as scarafaggio. Wiktionary also lists blatta.
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| scarafaggio | /ska.raˈfad.d͡ʒo/ | masculine |
| blatta | /ˈblat.ta/ | feminine |
Both scarafaggio and blatta refer to the insect known as a cockroach.
Which one should you use?
scarafaggio is a masculine noun, while blatta is a common feminine synonym.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Palermo dialect, the word squagghiamiddu is used for cockroach.
How does it change in a sentence?
To talk about more than one, use the plural form scarafaggi for the masculine scarafaggio or blatte for the feminine blatta.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ska.raˈfad.dʒo/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word scarafaggio is likely a distant, mutated relative of the Latin word for 'scarab', the sacred dung beetle of Egypt.
Examples in context
- C'è uno scarafaggio in bagno.There's a cockroach in the bathroom.This sentence is useful for stating the location of a single scarafaggio.Tatoeba #2286546 by Guybrush88, translation #1482603 by Spamster
- Mangeresti mai uno scarafaggio?Would you ever eat a cockroach?This sentence is useful for asking a hypothetical question about eating a scarafaggio.Tatoeba #6704168 by Guybrush88, translation #954690 by CK
- Le uova di scarafaggio sono minuscole.Cockroach eggs are minuscule.This sentence is useful for describing the size of scarafaggio eggs.Tatoeba #11760255 by Guybrush88, translation #11613706 by tieguy
- Gli insetti più comuni in casa sono le mosche, le zanzare e gli scarafaggi.The most common insects in the house are flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are cleaning the living room.
- SofiaLorenzo, guarda! C'è uno scarafaggio vicino al divano.Lorenzo, look! There is a cockroach near the sofa.
- LorenzoOddio, lo vedo. Prendi la scopa!Oh god, I see it. Get the broom!
- SofiaNon voglio avvicinarmi a quello scarafaggio.I don't want to go near that cockroach.
- LorenzoTranquilla, lo tolgo io subito.Don't worry, I'll remove it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockroach” translations and entries scarafaggio, blatta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries blatta, scarafaggio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
