Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| contenitore | /kon.te.niˈto.re/ | masculine |
| recipiente | /re.t͡ʃiˈpjɛn.te/ | masculine |
A container is an item in which objects, materials or data can be stored or transported.
What does it mean word for word?
The word contenitore is derived from the verb contenere, which means 'to contain'.
Which one should you use?
Contenitore is a general term used for various types of containers, such as plastic bins, shipping containers or food storage boxes. In contrast, recipiente is more specific and often refers to a vessel or a container used to hold liquids or small amounts of food, such as a bowl or a jar.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of contenitore is contenitori. The plural form of recipiente is recipienti. Both nouns are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word contenitore is pronounced /kon.te.niˈto.re/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word contenitore is often used in the context of psychology to describe a person's emotional capacity to hold and process the feelings of another.
- While contenitore is used for shipping, Italians frequently use the English loanword 'container' when referring specifically to large intermodal freight boxes.
- The suffix -tore in contenitore is the same one used to turn verbs into professions, such as in scrittore for 'writer'.
Examples in context
- Il recipiente è pieno.The container is full.Tatoeba #1116913 by Guybrush88, translation #1116338 by CK
- Il recipiente è vuoto.The container is empty.Tatoeba #1116916 by Guybrush88, translation #1116339 by CK
- Tom aprì il freezer e tirò fuori un contenitore di gelato.Tom opened the freezer and took out a container of ice cream.Tatoeba #3261870 by Guybrush88, translation #2957613 by CK
- Un contenitore di plasticaA plastic container
- Un contenitore di vetroA glass container
- Un contenitore di metalloA metal container
- Un recipiente ermeticoAn airtight container
- Un recipiente sterileA sterile container
- Un recipiente di laboratorioA laboratory container
- Un contenitore per i biscottiA cookie jar
- Una scatola di cartoneA cardboard box
- Una scatola di cioccolatiniA box of chocolates
- Una scatola di scarpeA shoebox
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are organizing their kitchen cabinets.
- LorenzoMartina, hai visto il mio contenitore blu?Martina, have you seen my blue container?
- MartinaSì, l'ho messo sopra lo scaffale.Yes, I put it on top of the shelf.
- LorenzoGrazie, mi serve per conservare la pasta.Thanks, I need it to store the pasta.
- MartinaPerfetto, così non si rovina.Perfect, that way it won't spoil.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “container” translations and entries contenitore, recipiente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
