Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cervo | /ˈt͡ʃɛr.vo/ | masculine |
| alce | /ˈal.t͡ʃe/ | feminine |
| daino | /ˈdaj.no/ | masculine |
| capriolo | /ka.priˈɔ.lo/ | masculine |
In Italian, different words are used to specify the particular type of deer being discussed, such as moose or roe deer. If you are referring to deer as a general category, you use the plural form i cervi. The term for a deer's antlers is le corna.
Which one should you use?
While cervo is the general term for a deer, Italian uses specific nouns for different species: alce refers to a moose or elk, daino refers to a fallow deer and capriolo refers to a roe deer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The nouns in this group have different genders and plural forms. The masculine cervo becomes cervi in the plural. The masculine daino becomes daini in the plural. The masculine capriolo becomes caprioli in the plural. The feminine alce becomes alci in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
cervo is pronounced /ˈtʃɛr.vo/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While le corna means antlers in the context of a cervo, using the phrase mettere le corna to a person means to cheat on them in a romantic relationship.
- The word capriolo for roe deer is a 'diminutive' in its origin, stemming from a Latin word meaning 'little goat'.
- In Italian folklore, the cervo is often associated with nobility and the forest, frequently appearing in traditional hunting art and heraldry across the peninsula.
Examples in context
- Sparò a un cervo.He shot a deer.This sentence shows the use of cervo in a hunting context.Tatoeba #8508034 by Guybrush88, translation #8478058 by CH
- Cucinai carne di cervo.I cooked deer meat.This sentence demonstrates how to use cervo when referring to meat.Tatoeba #11723731 by Guybrush88, translation #4652151 by bsc2015
- Il cervo correva da solo.The deer was running by itself.This sentence shows cervo being used to describe the behavior of a single animal.Tatoeba #1007448 by Guybrush88, translation #264910 by CK
- Il cervo è un animale magnifico.The deer is a magnificent animal.
- Il daino è un animale tipico dei boschi italiani.The deer is a typical animal of Italian forests.
- Ho avvistato un cervo nel bosco!I spotted a deer in the woods!
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are walking in a park in the mountains.
- FrancescoGuarda, c'è un cervo tra gli alberi!Look, there is a deer among the trees!
- MartinaChe bello, è davvero maestoso.How beautiful, it is truly majestic.
- FrancescoNon muoverti, o scapperà via.Don't move, or it will run away.
- MartinaHai ragione, restiamo in silenzio.You're right, let's stay silent.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deer” translations and entries cervo, alce, daino, capriolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alce, capriolo, cervo, daino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
