grigio
/ˈɡri.d͡ʒo/
The English word gray is translated into Italian as grigio.
The word grigio describes a color between white and black and can be used as both an adjective and a noun.
Meaning: of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, grigio must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use grigia for feminine singular nouns, grigi for masculine plural nouns and grigie for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈɡri.dʒo/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In a political context, grigio can describe a 'gray eminence' (éminence grise), referring to a powerful advisor who operates behind the scenes.
- In Italian, the word grigio can be used metaphorically to describe a person's character, often implying someone who is dull, unremarkable, or lacks personality.
- The Italian word grigio is actually a distant relative of the English word 'gray', as both share a common ancestor in the Germanic word for 'grey'.
Examples in context
- Un asino è grigio.A donkey is gray.This sentence uses grigio to describe the color of a donkey.Tatoeba #6034695 by Guybrush88, translation #3693316 by andrewgtreantos
- Il cielo era grigio.The sky was gray.This sentence uses grigio to describe the color of the sky.Tatoeba #2347334 by Guybrush88, translation #2549275 by CK
- Quel gatto è grigio?Is that cat gray?This sentence uses grigio to ask about the color of a cat.Tatoeba #13175207 by Guybrush88, translation #11856088 by CK
- La tua nuova maglietta è fantastica in grigio.Your new shirt looks great in gray.
- lo stesso grigioThe same gray
- una macchina grigiaA gray car
- dei capelli grigiGray hair
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Martina are looking at a new sofa in a furniture store.
- AlessandroTi piace questo divano grigio?Do you like this gray sofa?
- MartinaSì, è molto bello.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- AlessandroÈ il colore perfetto per il salotto.It is the perfect color for the living room.
- MartinaHai ragione, Alessandro.You are right, Alessandro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry grigio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grigio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
