carino
/kaˈri.no/masculine
The English phrase "cute" is translated into Italian as carino.
carino is used to describe something or someone that is attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way. You can also use the exclamation Che carino! to say "How cute!" when reacting to something sweet.
Meaning: attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way (adj)
Which one should you use?
You might encounter caruccio or caruccia, which are informal variations used to describe small, cute things with an added touch of affection. For a sense of elegance and charm regarding someone's appearance, the more formal terms grazioso or graziosa are used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular is carino, and the feminine singular is carina. For plural nouns, use carini for masculine plural and carine for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /kaˈri.no/.
Did you know?
- The word carino is actually a 'diminutive' of the word caro, which means 'dear' or 'expensive'. By adding the suffix '-ino', the meaning shifts from something being precious or costly to something being small and cute.
- Because carino comes from caro, it shares a linguistic root with the English word 'charity'. Both stem from the concept of being 'dear' or 'precious' to others.
- In certain Italian contexts, calling a man carino can be a 'backhanded compliment'. While it means 'cute', it can sometimes imply he is 'nice' or 'pleasant' rather than truly handsome or rugged.
Examples in context
- È un cane carino.That's a cute dog.This sentence uses carino to describe a dog.Tatoeba #11290151 by Guybrush88, translation #6274622 by CK
- Il cane è carino.The dog is cute.Tatoeba #12763357 by Guybrush88, translation #6480269 by Micsmithel
- Lui è così carino.He's so cute.This sentence uses carino to describe a person.Tatoeba #1996855 by Guybrush88, translation #1339062 by CM
- Il bambino è carinoThe baby is cute
- La ragazza è molto graziosaThe girl is very cute
- Il cucciolo è adorabileThe puppy is adorable
- Guarda quel gattino caruccioLook at that adorable little kitten
- Quel cucciolo è carinissimo!That puppy is so cute!
- 85 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are looking at a small souvenir in a shop.
- MatteoGuarda questo portachiavi, è proprio carino!Look at this keychain, it's really cute!
- ChiaraSì, è molto dolce.Yes, it is very sweet.
- MatteoPenso che sia un regalo carino per mio fratello.I think it would be a cute gift for my brother.
- ChiaraHai ragione, prendilo!You're right, buy it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cute” translations and entries carino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
