cristallo
/krisˈtal.lo/masculine
The English word 'crystal' translates to Italian as cristallo.
cristallo refers to the mineral. When used in the idiom for a 'crystal ball' (used to mean predicting the future), you use the phrase sfera di cristallo.
Meaning: mineral (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /krisˈtal.lo/.
Did you know?
- The Greek root of cristallo originally referred to 'ice', because ancient people believed clear crystals were actually water frozen so hard that it could never melt.
- The word cristallo is used to name a specific type of high-end luxury glass produced in Venice, often referred to as cristallo veneziano.
- The term cristallo is used in the famous Italian idiom un cuore di cristallo, meaning a heart that is incredibly fragile or easily broken.
Examples in context
- Non ho una sfera di cristallo.I don't have a crystal ball.This sentence shows how to use the idiom sfera di cristallo.Tatoeba #6981306 by Guybrush88, translation #6472126 by Hybrid
- Un computer è una sfera di cristallo.A computer is a crystal ball.This sentence uses the idiom sfera di cristallo to compare a computer to a crystal ball.Tatoeba #13356942 by Guybrush88, translation #12896308 by rul
- A volte vorrei avere una sfera di cristallo per intravedere il mio futuro.I sometimes wish I had a crystal ball to glimpse into my future.This sentence demonstrates a wish to use a sfera di cristallo to see the future.Tatoeba #13460892 by Nuel, translation #13460890 by Nuel
- Ho un cristallo bellissimo nella mia collezione di minerali.I have a beautiful crystal in my mineral collection.
- Il candeliere è fatto di puro cristallo.The chandelier is made of pure crystal.
- Questo vetro sembra proprio un cristallo!This glass really looks like a crystal!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are looking at a decorative vase in a shop.
- LorenzoGuarda questo vaso, è fatto di cristallo.Look at this vase, it is made of crystal.
- MartinaÈ bellissimo, ma costa troppo.It is beautiful, but it costs too much.
- LorenzoIl cristallo di qualità è sempre costoso.Quality crystal is always expensive.
- MartinaHai ragione, cerchiamo qualcosa di più economico.You are right, let's look for something cheaper.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crystal” translations and entries cristallo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cristallo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
