scrivania
/skri.vaˈni.a/feminine
The Italian word for desk is scrivania.
scrivania refers specifically to a table used for writing or reading, such as an office desk.
Meaning: table for writing and reading (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use scrivania specifically for a writing or office desk, whereas tavolo is used for a general table used for eating or sitting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some southern regions, such as Sicily or Calabria, the word scrittoio is used instead of scrivania.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of scrivania is scrivanie.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /skri.vaˈni.a/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- In a school setting, students typically sit at a banco, which is a specialized school desk, rather than a scrivania.
- Unlike English where 'desk' can refer to a reception counter or a help desk, Italian uses bancone for those surfaces.
- The term scrittoio is not just a regional variant but historically referred to a more ornate, antique writing cabinet with drawers and secret compartments.
Examples in context
- È alla sua scrivania.He is at his desk.This sentence is useful for describing someone being at their desk.Tatoeba #5355450 by Guybrush88, translation #295065 by CK
- Ora è alla scrivania.He is now at the desk.This sentence is useful for describing someone being at the desk now.Tatoeba #9802503 by Guybrush88, translation #296538 by CC
- È sulla mia scrivania.It's on my desk.This sentence is useful for describing an object being on a desk.Tatoeba #5480374 by Guybrush88, translation #2648996 by CK
- Ho messo la penna sulla scrivania.I put the pen on the desk.
- Marco lavora al tavolo da lavoro tutto il giorno.Marco works at the desk all day.
- Abbiamo bisogno di un tavolino per il nuovo ufficio.We need a small desk for the new office.
- 658 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are in an office.
- ChiaraDove si trova la mia scrivania?Where is my desk?
- MatteoLa tua scrivania è accanto alla finestra.Your desk is next to the window.
- ChiaraGrazie, è molto luminosa.Thanks, it is very bright.
- MatteoHai ragione, è un bell'ufficio.You are right, it is a beautiful office.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “desk” translations and entries scrivania, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
