letame
/leˈta.me/
Manure in Italian is letame.
Meaning: fertiliser (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun letame is masculine, meaning it is used with masculine articles and adjectives. If you wish to express the idea of "some manure," use the partitive article del letame.
How do you pronounce it?
/leˈta.me/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word letame comes from the Latin laetus, which meant 'happy' or 'rich'. This reflects an ancient view of manure as something that brings richness and wealth to the soil.
- Using letame to describe chemical fertilizer can sound surprisingly graphic to a native speaker, as the word specifically evokes animal waste.
- The Italian language distinguishes between letame and sterco. While both mean manure, sterco is often used for the waste of a specific animal, whereas letame refers to the processed pile used for farming.
Examples in context
- I suoi vestiti erano impregnati della puzza di letame.His clothes were impregnated with the stench of manure.This sentence is useful for describing the smell of letame.Tatoeba #11573883 by Nuel, translation #11573882 by Nuel
- Il letame biologico di pollo ha un'alta quantità di azoto.Organic chicken manure is high in nitrogen.This sentence is useful for discussing the nitrogen content of letame.Tatoeba #1979362 by Guybrush88, translation #1862580 by Jillyappleseed
- Se serve una mano nella stalla, guarda che non mi faccio nessun problema a spalare il letame.If you need a hand in the stable, look, I have no problem shoveling manure.This sentence is useful for describing the act of shoveling letame in a stable.Tatoeba #13913630 by Nuel, translation #13913629 by Nuel
- La produzione di letame è essenziale per mantenere la fertilità del terreno.The production of manure is essential for maintaining soil fertility.
- È possibile utilizzare concime naturale per nutrire le piante nel modo più sostenibile.It is possible to use natural fertilizer to nourish plants in the most sustainable way.
- La coltivazione biologica si basa sull'utilizzo di fertilizzanti organici come il letame.Organic cultivation is based on the use of organic fertilizers like manure.
- Ho bisogno di del buon sterco per il mio orto. Sai dove posso trovarlo?I need some good manure for my vegetable garden. Do you know where I can find it?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Martina are working in their rural garden.
- AlessandroMartina, hai preso il letame?Martina, did you get the manure?
- MartinaSì, Alessandro, è nel retro del camion.Yes, Alessandro, it is in the back of the truck.
- AlessandroPerfetto, iniziamo a concimare la terra.Perfect, let's start fertilizing the soil.
- MartinaVa bene, porto subito le pale.Okay, I'll bring the shovels right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry letame, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries letame, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
