cani
The English phrase 'dogs' is translated into Italian as cani.
cani refers to domesticated carnivorous mammals often kept as pets. If you wish to refer to a single dog, use the singular form cane. For a puppy or a little dog, you can use cagnolino.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cani is the plural form of cane. When you are talking about dogs in a general sense, Italian uses the definite article, such as in the phrase i cani.
When do people say it?
The expression fare il cane da guardia is used to describe the act of being a watchdog.
Did you know?
- Italian uses the phrase canaglia to describe a scoundrel or a rascal, a word derived from the collective term for a pack of cani.
- In Italian, the phrase tempo da cani describes weather that is absolutely miserable, such as heavy rain or freezing wind, rather than just 'bad' weather.
- In Italian, the phrase essere un cane can be used to describe a person who is truly unpleasant or a 'bad egg'.
Examples in context
- Io amo i cani.I love dogs.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal preference or emotion toward cani.Tatoeba #5344868 by Guybrush88, translation #2006612 by AlanF_US
- Io ho tre cani.I have three dogs.This sentence is useful for expressing ownership of a specific number of cani.Tatoeba #1607063 by Guybrush88, translation #289638 by CK
- Io odio i cani.I hate dogs.This sentence is useful for expressing a strong dislike for cani.Tatoeba #3557699 by Guybrush88, translation #3330557 by CK
- Sono molto affezionato ai cani.I am very fond of dogs.
- 1571 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are talking about their pets.
- SofiaTi piacciono i cani?Do you like dogs?
- MatteoSì, i cani sono adorabili.Yes, dogs are adorable.
- SofiaIo vorrei due cani piccoli.I would like two small dogs.
- MatteoAnche io voglio dei cani.I want some dogs too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
