cerchio
/ˈt͡ʃer.kjo/
The Italian word for the basketball hoop is cerchio.
In the context of basketball, the term refers to the rim or the circular part of the net.
Meaning: basketball: rim part of a basketball net (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word cerchio literally means 'circle'.
Which one should you use?
While cerchio refers to the circular shape, the term canestro is the more common word used specifically to refer to the basketball hoop or the basket itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is cerchio and its plural form is cerchi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈtʃer.kjo/. It has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The phrase chiudere il cerchio literally means 'to close the circle', but it is used idiomatically to mean 'bringing a matter to a conclusion' or 'tying up loose ends'.
- In Italian, the word cerchio is used to describe the 'ring' of a barrel, referring to the metal band that holds the wooden slats together.
- The word canestro, the more common term for the hoop, actually refers to the 'basket' itself, reflecting the sport's history when players used actual wicker baskets.
Examples in context
- Dammi quell'anello di plastica per giocare.Give me that plastic hoop to play with.
- Il pallone è passato nel cerchio.The ball went through the hoop.
- Hanno installato un nuovo cerchio nel parco.They installed a new hoop in the park.
- La palla è rimbalzata sul cerchio.The ball bounced off the rim.
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are at an outdoor basketball court.
- FrancescoGuarda, quel cerchio è un po' storto.Look, that hoop is a bit crooked.
- GiuliaHai ragione, Francesco, sembra danneggiato.You are right, Francesco, it looks damaged.
- FrancescoProviamo a giocare comunque?Shall we try to play anyway?
- GiuliaSì, ma facciamo attenzione.Yes, but let's be careful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cerchio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
