sciacallo
/ʃaˈkal.lo/masculine
The English word "jackal" is translated into Italian as sciacallo. If unsure, use sciacallo. Wiktionary also lists sciacalla.
Meaning: wild canine (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sciacallo | /ʃaˈkal.lo/ | masculine |
| sciacalla | feminine |
The term refers to the wild canine. Metaphorically, much like in English, sciacallo can describe a person who is predatory or who profits from the misfortune of others.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ʃaˈkal.lo/.
Did you know?
- The word sciacallo travelled through four different languages before entering Italian: from Sanskrit to Persian, then Turkish and French.
- Despite the animal not being native to Italy, sciacallo is used frequently in Italian crime novels to describe ruthless lawyers or prosecutors.
- In Italian sports culture, calling a player a sciacallo often refers to a player who specializes in 'stealing' the ball or exploiting a tiny gap in the opponent's defense.
Examples in context
- Lo sciacallo sta ululando.The jackal is howling.This sentence is useful for seeing the word sciacallo used in the context of an animal howling.Tatoeba #3860916 by Guybrush88, translation #1663009 by Amastan
- Qual è la differenza tra uno sciacallo e un lupo?What's the difference between a jackal and a wolf?This sentence uses sciacallo to ask about the distinction between a jackal and a wolf.Tatoeba #3877363 by Guybrush88, translation #12362826 by ddnktr
- Non posso ruggire come un leone. Sono uno sciacallo.I cannot roar like a lion. I'm a jackal.Tatoeba #2995906 by Guybrush88, translation #1687110 by Amastan
- Ho visto uno spettacolare sciacallo durante il mio safari in Africa.I saw a spectacular jackal during my safari in Africa.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are looking at a book about African wildlife.
- LorenzoGuarda questo animale, è uno sciacallo.Look at this animal, it is a jackal.
- SofiaSembra molto simile a un cane.It looks very similar to a dog.
- LorenzoSì, ma lo sciacallo è più piccolo.Yes, but the jackal is smaller.
- SofiaÈ un animale molto interessante.It is a very interesting animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jackal” translations and entries sciacallo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sciacallo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
