camicia elegante
/kaˈmi.t͡ʃa e.leˈɡan.te/word by word
The Italian phrase for dress shirt is camicia elegante.
camicia elegante is used to describe a collared shirt that is suitable for formal occasions.
Meaning: collared shirt (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of camicia (shirt) and elegante (elegant).
Which one should you use?
While camicia can refer to any shirt, adding elegante specifies it as a dress shirt. If you are specifically looking for a men's dress shirt, you might use camicia da uomo.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaˈmi.tʃa e.leˈɡan.te/. The word has 6 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word camicia is used in various technical Italian expressions, such as a camicia di forza, which actually means a 'straitjacket' rather than a 'strong shirt'.
- While camicia means 'shirt' today, it originally referred to the linen undergarments worn by both men and women under their outer clothes.
- The word camicia shares a common ancestor with the English word 'shirt', both tracing back to the Germanic word *hamiþi. Through the movement of people across the Alps, the Gaulish version of this word eventually became the Italian term we use today.
Examples in context
- Ho bisogno di una camicia elegante per l'evento di domani.I need a dress shirt for tomorrow's event.
- Ho comprato una camicia formale per l'intervista di lavoro.I bought a formal dress shirt for the job interview.
- Indosso una camicia elegante per il matrimonio.I am wearing a dress shirt for the wedding.
- Devo stirare la mia camicia elegante.I have to iron my dress shirt.
- Questa camicia elegante è perfetta per il matrimonio.This dress shirt is perfect for the wedding.
- Cerco una camicia elegante di colore blu.I am looking for a blue dress shirt.
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are getting ready for a formal event.
- ChiaraAlessandro, dove hai messo la tua camicia elegante?Alessandro, where did you put your dress shirt?
- AlessandroÈ appesa nell'armadio, Chiara.It is hanging in the closet, Chiara.
- ChiaraÈ ancora spiegazzata, devi stirarla.It is still wrinkled, you have to iron it.
- AlessandroHai ragione, lo faccio subito.You are right, I will do it right away.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (camicia, elegante) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camicia, elegante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
