pollice verde
/ˈpɔl.li.t͡ʃe ˈver.de/word by wordmasculine
The English phrase 'green thumb' is translated into Italian as pollice verde.
pollice verde is an idiom used in Italian to describe someone who has a natural talent for gardening and making plants grow.
Meaning: skill (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of 'green thumb', where pollice means thumb and verde means green.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you have a green thumb, use the phrase with the verb avere (to have) and include the definite article il (the), as in avere il pollice verde. The noun phrase pollice verde is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈpɔl.li.tʃe ˈver.de/. It consists of 5 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While pollice verde is used today, it is a modern loan translation from English. Older generations of Italians may instead have used the phrase mano verde to describe a talent for gardening.
- In Italian, the word for thumb pollice is also the root for the word 'inch' in several other Romance languages, as the thumb served as a historic unit of measurement.
- The word verde is a direct relative of the English word 'verdure', both describing the lush, green appearance of growing plants.
Examples in context
- Non ho per nulla il pollice verde.I don't have a green thumb at all.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not possess a green thumb at all using pollice verde.Tatoeba #13711519 by Guybrush88, translation #10617018 by felidad
- avere il pollice verdeTo have green fingers / a green thumbThis is the infinitive form of the phrase avere il pollice verde.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a lush balcony garden.
- AlessandroSofia, come fanno queste piante a stare così bene?Sofia, how do these plants do so well?
- SofiaCredo di avere un pollice verde, Alessandro.I think I have a green thumb, Alessandro.
- AlessandroTi invidio molto questa tua abilità.I really envy this skill of yours.
- SofiaTi insegnerò i miei segreti un giorno!I'll teach you my secrets one day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “green thumb” translations and entries pollice verde, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (pollice, verde) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pollice, verde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
