culla
/ˈkul.la/feminine
The English word "crib" can be translated into Italian as culla. Wiktionary also lists lettino a sponde alte.
Meaning: a baby’s bed with high sides (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| culla | /ˈkul.la/ | feminine |
| lettino a sponde alte | masculine |
culla is the standard term for a baby's bed. It can also carry a more poetic or traditional connotation, often referring specifically to a cradle rather than a modern, functional baby bed.
Which one should you use?
While culla is the standard word, lettino a sponde alte is a more descriptive way to specify a small bed with high sides.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of culla is culle.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈkul.la/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- If you use the phrase lettino a sponde alte, the word sponde refers to the banks of a river, not just the sides of a bed.
- In Italian, the word culla is used to describe the movement of a boat on the waves, evoking the rocking motion of a baby's bed.
- The word culla descends from the Latin cūna, which is a relative of the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to be lying down' or 'to settle'.
Examples in context
- Lascia il bambino nella culla.Leave the baby in the crib.This sentence is useful for learning how to use culla to describe leaving a baby in a crib.
- Ho comprato un lettino nuovo per il mio bambino.I bought a new crib for my baby.
- La neonata dormiva tranquilla nella sua culla.The newborn slept peacefully in her crib.
- La mia nipotina dorme ancora nella culletta che ho usato io da piccolo.My niece still sleeps in the crib I used when I was a baby.
- La culla è molto comoda.The crib is very comfortable.
- Abbiamo comprato una culla nuova.We bought a new crib.
Example conversation
A couple is preparing the nursery for their newborn.
- AlessandroDove mettiamo la culla?Where do we put the crib?
- MartinaMettila vicino alla finestra, Alessandro.Put it near the window, Alessandro.
- AlessandroLa culla è troppo grande?Is the crib too big?
- MartinaNo, sta benissimo in questa stanza.No, it fits perfectly in this room.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crib” translations and entries culla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, culla, lettino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
