lente d'ingrandimento
feminine
The English phrase 'magnifying glass' is translated into Italian as lente d'ingrandimento.
The term refers to a lens used as an instrument to produce an enlarged image of an object.
Meaning: instrument (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of lente (lens) and d'ingrandimento (of enlargement).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun lente is feminine. Because of this, the indefinite article for 'a magnifying glass' is una lente d'ingrandimento. When making the phrase plural, only the noun changes to its feminine plural form, resulting in lenti d'ingrandimento for 'magnifying glasses'.
Did you know?
- The word lente shares a surprising historical connection with the word for 'lentil'. It comes from the Latin lentem, because the convex shape of a lens was thought to resemble the legume.
- The Italian word lente can mean both 'lens' and 'slow'. These two meanings are completely unrelated and come from different linguistic roots despite sharing the same spelling.
- In many contexts, if you simply say la lente, an Italian speaker might think you are referring to a contact lens rather than a magnifying glass.
Examples in context
- Tom ha aperto il cassetto e ha tirato fuori una lente d'ingrandimento.Tom opened the drawer and pulled out a magnifying glass.This sentence shows how to use lente d'ingrandimento when describing someone pulling an object out of a drawer.Tatoeba #13905332 by unforgiven95, translation #3085054 by CK
- Vorrei comprare una lente d'ingrandimento per leggere meglio i piccoli caratteri.I would like to buy a magnifying glass to read small print better.
- Hai una lente di ingrandimento? Mi serve per osservare meglio i dettagli dei fiori.Do you have a magnifying glass? I need it to observe flower details more closely.
- Passami quella lente a ingrandimento. Voglio guardare da vicino questo oggetto.Pass me that magnifying glass. I want to take a closer look at this object.
- Ho bisogno di una lente d'ingrandimento per leggere questo.I need a magnifying glass to read this.
- Cerca la lente d'ingrandimento sul tavolo.Look for the magnifying glass on the table.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are looking at a small insect in a book.
- ChiaraMatteo, puoi passarmi la lente d'ingrandimento?Matteo, can you pass me the magnifying glass?
- MatteoCertamente, eccola qui per te, Chiara.Certainly, here it is for you, Chiara.
- ChiaraGrazie, con la lente d'ingrandimento si vede meglio.Thanks, with the magnifying glass it is easier to see.
- MatteoHai ragione, è molto utile.You're right, it is very useful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “magnifying glass” translations and entries lente d'ingrandimento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
