di oro
/di ˈɔ.ro/word by word
The Italian way to say 'gold' as an adjective is di oro. Wiktionary also lists d'oro and aureo.
Meaning: made of gold, golden (adj)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| di oro | /di ˈɔ.ro/ (word by word) |
| d'oro | /ˈdɔ.ro/ |
| aureo | /ˈaw.re.o/ |
| dorato | /doˈra.to/ |
When you want to describe an object as being made of the metal gold, you use di oro or its contracted form d'oro. You can also use these forms idiomatically, such as in the phrase cuore d'oro to describe a person with a very kind and generous nature.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase di oro literally translates to 'of gold'.
Which one should you use?
While d'oro means something is actually made of gold, dorato means something is gold-colored or has been gilded.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /di ˈɔ.ro/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The Italian word for gold, oro, shares its ancient roots with the Proto-Indo-European word for 'dawn', h₂éh₂usom, because of the bright, glowing quality both concepts share.
- The word oro sounds almost identical to the Italian verb oro, which is a rare form of the verb 'to pray' or 'to beseech' in certain archaic contexts.
- While oro is the common word for gold, the more formal aureo is a learned borrowing from the Latin aureus. It is often used for abstract concepts like the 'golden age' or età aurea.
Examples in context
- La moneta è d'oro.The coin is gold.This sentence is useful for describing the material of a coin using d'oro.Tatoeba #2836946 by Guybrush88, translation #2836945 by _undertoad
- Ha un dente d'oro.He's got a gold tooth.This sentence shows how to describe a gold tooth using d'oro.Tatoeba #8671342 by Guybrush88, translation #8671336 by ajje
- Ha un cuore d'oro.He has a heart of gold.This sentence illustrates the idiomatic expression for a person with a kind nature using d'oro.Tatoeba #12570641 by Guybrush88, translation #2217665 by Hybrid
- Il gioielliere mi ha mostrato un anello d'oro.The jeweler showed me a gold ring.
- Il prezioso chandelier era fatto interamente di oro.The precious chandelier was made entirely of gold.
- Ho comprato un paio di orecchini d'oro oggi.I bought a pair of gold earrings today.
- Voglio un braccialetto d'oro per il mio compleanno.I want a gold bracelet for my birthday.
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are looking at jewelry in a store.
- MatteoGuarda questo anello di oro.Look at this gold ring.
- MartinaÈ bellissimo, ma costa troppo.It is beautiful, but it costs too much.
- MatteoPreferisci un anello di oro o d'argento?Do you prefer a gold ring or a silver one?
- MartinaPreferisco l'argento, grazie Matteo.I prefer silver, thank you Matteo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gold” translations and entries d'oro, aureo, dorato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (di, oro) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aureo, d'oro, di, dorato, oro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
