ferro da calza
/ˈfɛr.ro da ˈkal.t͡sa/word by wordmasculine
In Italian, the phrase for knitting needle is ferro da calza. Wiktionary also lists ferro da maglia.
Meaning: thin rod used to knit yarn (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ferro da calza | /ˈfɛr.ro da ˈkal.t͡sa/ (word by word) | masculine |
| ferro da maglia | /ˈfɛr.ro da ˈmaʎ.ʎa/ (word by word) | masculine |
The term refers to a thin rod used to knit yarn.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ferro da calza literally translates to iron for sock.
Which one should you use?
Ferro da maglia is a more general term for a knitting needle, whereas ferro da calza specifically implies a needle used for knitting socks.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'knitting needles', change the masculine singular ferro to the masculine plural ferri.
How do you pronounce it?
It consists of 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Because ferro means 'iron', an Italian might call your bamboo or plastic needles ferri even though they contain no metal.
- While calza means 'sock' today, it descends from the Latin calceus, which referred to a 'shoe'. This shows how the Italian word for a stocking evolved from the word for footwear.
- In Italian, the word maglia is used both for the individual loop of a knit and for the entire knitted garment, such as a sweater.
Examples in context
- Mi serve un ferro da maglia per iniziare questo progetto.I need a knitting needle to start this project.
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are tidying up the living room.
- MatteoMartina, hai visto il mio ferro da calza?Martina, have you seen my knitting needle?
- MartinaSì, è sotto il divano, Matteo.Yes, it is under the sofa, Matteo.
- MatteoGrazie, pensavo di averlo perso.Thanks, I thought I had lost it.
- MartinaPrego, ora puoi finire il lavoro.You're welcome, now you can finish the work.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “knitting needle” translations and entries ferro da calza, ferro da maglia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ferro, da, calza, maglia) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calza, da, ferro, maglia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
