colino
/koˈli.no/masculine
The English word 'colander' is colino in Italian. If unsure, use colino. Wiktionary also lists colapasta and colabrodo.
Meaning: a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food such as pasta (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| colino | /koˈli.no/ | masculine |
| colapasta | /ˌko.laˈpas.ta/ | masculine |
| colabrodo | /ko.laˈbrɔ.do/ | masculine |
A colander is a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes used for draining food, such as pasta. While the standard terms are used in any kitchen, you might encounter the informal term scolaschifezze, which can be loosely translated as a 'thing for draining stuff'.
Which one should you use?
The masculine nouns colino, colapasta and colabrodo all refer to a colander. Colapasta specifically highlights its function for draining pasta.
How does it change in a sentence?
All the provided forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
colino is pronounced /koˈli.no/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word colare is used to describe a runny nose, such as mi cola il naso. This shares the same root as the tools used for draining liquids.
- The word colabrodo combines the verb for 'straining' with brodo, meaning 'broth'. This highlights the tool's historical primary use for draining meat or vegetables from a savory soup.
- The word colino uses the suffix -ino, which typically means 'small'. This suggests that the tool was originally envisioned as a smaller version of a larger straining device.
Example sentences for Italian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are cooking dinner in the kitchen.
- GiuliaAlessandro, mi passi il colino?Alessandro, can you pass me the colander?
- AlessandroSì, eccolo qui.Yes, here it is.
- GiuliaGrazie, ora scolo la pasta.Thanks, now I'm draining the pasta.
- AlessandroOttimo, la cena è quasi pronta.Great, dinner is almost ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “colander” translations and entries colino, colapasta, colabrodo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colapasta, colino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
