riccio
/ˈrit.t͡ʃo/
The English word 'curly' is translated into Italian as riccio.
riccio is an adjective used to describe something that has curls. You can also use the related term riccioluto specifically to describe hair that is thick and curly.
Meaning: having curls (adj)
Which one should you use?
While riccio is the standard adjective for 'curly', riccioluto is often used when describing hair that is particularly thick and curly.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The forms are: riccio for masculine singular, riccia for feminine singular, ricci for masculine plural and ricce for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈrit.tʃo/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word riccio is also the Italian word for 'hedgehog'.
- The word shares an ancient root with the English word 'bristle', both coming from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to be stiff or prickly'.
- The term riccio can be used in cooking to describe certain types of pasta that have a spiral or curly shape.
Examples in context
- La coda del maiale è riccioluta.The pig's tail is curly.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe an object like a tail using the adjective riccio.Tatoeba #3121869 by Guybrush88, translation #3121868 by ddnktr
- Quella donna ha dei capelli ricci davvero belli.That woman has really beautiful curly hair.
- Che belli i tuoi capelli riccioluti, proprio come i miei!Your tightly curled hair looks great, just like mine!
Example conversation
Martina and Francesco are talking about a new hairstyle.
- MartinaTi piace il mio nuovo taglio riccio?Do you like my new curly cut?
- FrancescoSì, Martina, ti sta molto bene.Yes, Martina, it suits you very well.
- MartinaGrazie, Francesco! È difficile da gestire.Thanks, Francesco! It is difficult to manage.
- FrancescoMa è molto naturale così.But it looks very natural this way.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry riccio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries riccio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
