foglia d'oro
/ˈfɔʎ.ʎa ˈdɔ.ro/word by word
The English phrase "gold leaf" is translated into Italian as foglia d'oro. If unsure, use foglia d'oro. Wiktionary also lists foglia oro.
Meaning: gold beaten into a thin sheet (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| foglia d'oro | /ˈfɔʎ.ʎa ˈdɔ.ro/ (word by word) | |
| foglia oro | /ˈfɔʎ.ʎa ˈɔ.ro/ (word by word) | feminine |
This term refers to gold that has been beaten into a thin sheet.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase foglia d'oro literally translates to "leaf of gold".
How does it change in a sentence?
To talk about multiple gold leaves, use the plural form foglie d'oro. In this case, only the noun foglia changes to its plural form.
Did you know?
- The Latin ancestor of oro, aurum, is the reason the chemical symbol for gold on the periodic table is 'Au'.
- Italian gilding is so prestigious that the 'School of Arts' in many Italian cities still teaches the ancient method of applying foglia d'oro using a clay base called 'bolo'.
- The word oro shares an ancient connection with the concept of 'glow' or 'dawn', stemming from a root that describes the light of the rising sun.
Examples in context
- Avete foglia d'oro?Do you have gold leaf?
- La cornice è decorata con foglia d'oro.The frame is decorated with gold leaf.
- Usa la foglia d'oro per la decorazione.Use gold leaf for the decoration.
- Il restauratore applica la foglia d'oro sulla statua.The restorer applies the gold leaf to the statue.
Example conversation
An art restorer and an apprentice are preparing materials in a studio.
- ChiaraAlessandro, hai preso la foglia d'oro?Alessandro, did you get the gold leaf?
- AlessandroSì, Chiara, l'ho messa sul tavolo.Yes, Chiara, I put it on the table.
- ChiaraOttimo, è molto delicata.Great, it is very delicate.
- AlessandroLo so, devo stare attento.I know, I have to be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gold leaf” translations and entries foglia d'oro, foglia oro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (foglia, d'oro, oro) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries d'oro, foglia, foglia oro, oro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
