magro
/ˈma.ɡro/
In Italian, the word for lean is magro.
magro is used to describe someone or something that is slim or lacks flesh. It can also be used to describe a substance that has a low proportion of a desired substance, in which case the related form magra might be used.
Meaning: to incline (verb)
Which one should you use?
While magro is a more neutral or even blunt description of low body fat, slanciato is used to describe a 'lean' person who is tall and elegant, whereas asciutto is often used to describe a 'lean and dry' physique, implying a lack of water retention or excess fat.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective magro must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The form magra is the feminine singular, magri is the masculine plural and magre is the feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈma.ɡro/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian cooking, carne magra refers to lean meat, but the term is also used in the phrase di magro to describe meals eaten during Lent when meat is forbidden.
- The English word 'meager' is a distant cousin to the Italian magro, as both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root for thinness.
- The word magro can be used to describe a poor result, such as un raccolto magro for a meager harvest or un risultato magro for a disappointing score.
Examples in context
- Marco si appoggia al muro.Marco leans against the wall.
- La ragazza si inclina per raccogliere il libro.The girl leans to pick up the book.
- Mi appoggio al tavolo mentre leggo il giornale.I lean on the table while reading the newspaper.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Sofia are talking about their new fitness routines.
- AlessandroGuarda come sono diventato magro!Look how lean I have become!
- SofiaSì, Alessandro, ti stai allenando bene.Yes, Alessandro, you are training well.
- AlessandroSeguo una dieta molto rigorosa.I am following a very strict diet.
- SofiaSi vede che sei più magro.It shows that you are leaner.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry magro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries magro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
