collutorio
/kol.luˈtɔ.rjo/masculine
The Italian word for mouthwash is collutorio.
collutorio is a noun used to refer to a liquid used to clean one's mouth.
Meaning: liquid used to clean one's mouth (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
collutorio is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables and the stress is on the third syllable: /kol.luˈtɔ.rjo/.
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'mouthwash' is a compound of two common words, collutorio is a single technical term that doesn't explicitly mention 'mouth' or 'wash' in its modern form.
- If you are looking for the specific action of using mouthwash, Italians use the verb sciacquare, which is also used for rinsing dishes or clothes.
- The root of the word, 'colluere', literally means 'to wash thoroughly', which explains why the word sounds so much more formal than the simple English 'mouthwash'.
Examples in context
- Mi scusi, dove posso trovare il collutorio?Excuse me, where can I find mouthwash?
- Devo comprare un nuovo collutorio.I need to buy a new mouthwash.
- Il collutorio alla menta è molto fresco.The mint mouthwash is very refreshing.
- Usi il collutorio dopo aver lavato i denti?Do you use mouthwash after brushing your teeth?
Example conversation
Lorenzo is looking for a specific product in the pharmacy.
- SofiaLorenzo, serve il collutorio?Lorenzo, do we need mouthwash?
- LorenzoSì, abbiamo finito il nostro.Yes, we have run out of ours.
- SofiaPrendo un collutorio alla menta.I will get a mint mouthwash.
- LorenzoVa bene, grazie Sofia.That's fine, thanks Sofia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mouthwash” translations and entries collutorio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries collutorio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
