orologio a cucù
/o.roˈlɔ.d͡ʒo a kuˈku/word by wordmasculine
The English phrase cuckoo clock is orologio a cucù in Italian.
The term orologio a cucù refers to a clock (noun).
Meaning: clock (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase orologio a cucù, the preposition a functions to indicate the mechanism or the feature that characterizes the clock, meaning 'with / by means of'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural, cuckoo clocks, only the noun changes to orologi a cucù, while the rest of the phrase remains the same.
Did you know?
- The word orologio is used for any device that tells time, from a digital smartwatch to a giant tower, whereas English often distinguishes between 'clock' and 'watch'.
- The term orologio traces its lineage back to the Greek word ὡρολόγιον, which literally means 'time-teller'.
- While orologio is the general word for 'clock', Italians use the term orologio da polso specifically for a 'wrist watch'.
Examples in context
- Vorrei comprare un bellissimo orologio a cucù per la mia camera.I would like to buy a beautiful cuckoo clock for my room.
- Questo negozio offre una vasta selezione di orologi a cucù.This shop offers a wide selection of cuckoo clocks.
- Hai notato il cucù appeso al muro di casa loro?Did you notice the cuckoo clock hanging on their house's wall?
- Il mio orologio a cucù è antico.My cuckoo clock is antique.
- Guarda quel bellissimo orologio a cucù in legno.Look at that beautiful wooden cuckoo clock.
- L'orologio a cucù suona ogni ora.The cuckoo clock strikes every hour.
Example conversation
Matteo and Sofia are visiting a traditional souvenir shop.
- MatteoSofia, guarda questo orologio a cucù!Sofia, look at this cuckoo clock!
- SofiaÈ davvero molto carino, Matteo.It is really very cute, Matteo.
- MatteoVuoi comprarlo per la nostra casa?Do you want to buy it for our home?
- SofiaSì, sarebbe un regalo perfetto.Yes, it would be a perfect gift.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cuckoo clock” translations and entries orologio a cucù, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (orologio, a, cucù) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, cucù, orologio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
