pugnale
/puɲˈɲa.le/masculine
The English word 'dagger' can be translated into Italian as pugnale. If unsure, use pugnale. Wiktionary also lists daga and stiletto.
Meaning: a stabbing weapon (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pugnale | /puɲˈɲa.le/ | masculine |
| daga | /ˈda.ɡa/ | feminine |
| stiletto | masculine |
The terms used to describe a stabbing weapon in Italian range from general descriptions to specific types of blades or literary expressions.
Which one should you use?
pugnale is the most common and general term for a dagger. In contrast, stiletto refers specifically to a thin, needle-like dagger designed for piercing. The word daga is a more literary or archaic term compared to pugnale.
How does it change in a sentence?
pugnale and stiletto are masculine nouns. daga is a feminine noun and uses feminine articles like una or la.
How do you pronounce it?
pugnale is pronounced /puɲˈɲa.le/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word stiletto in Italian refers to a tiny, thin blade, but in English, it is most commonly known as a type of high-heeled shoe. The shoe name comes from the needle-like shape of the heel.
- The stiletto is often associated with the historical underworld of Naples and the 'Camorra', where it served as a discreet weapon for street conflicts.
- The literary term daga may have originated from the name of 'Dacia', a Roman province. Knives from that region were so distinctive that the place name became the word for the weapon.
Examples in context
- Tom attaccò Mary con un pugnale.Tom attacked Mary with a dagger.This sentence shows how to use pugnale in the context of an attack.Tatoeba #5588636 by Guybrush88, translation #3115712 by CK
- Devi impugnare così quel pugnale.You must hold that dagger like this.This sentence demonstrates how to use pugnale when talking about how to hold the weapon.Tatoeba #998927 by Guybrush88, translation #5034346 by dantat65
- La spada ha la lama lunga, mentre il pugnale è un'arma da taglio di dimensioni più ridotte.The sword has a long blade, while the dagger is a smaller-sized cutting weapon.
- Il cavaliere portava una daga al suo fianco.The knight carried a dagger by his side.
- Ho comprato un pugnalino per il mio costume di carnevale.I bought a little dagger for my carnival costume.
- Il ladro nascondeva un pugnale.The thief was hiding a dagger.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are looking at an exhibit in a museum.
- LorenzoGuarda questo antico pugnale.Look at this ancient dagger.
- SofiaÈ molto affilato, Lorenzo.It is very sharp, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoSì, sembra davvero pericoloso.Yes, it looks truly dangerous.
- SofiaNon toccarlo, per favore.Don't touch it, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dagger” translations and entries pugnale, daga, stiletto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries daga, pugnale, stiletto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
