noce
/ˈno.t͡ʃe/feminine
The Italian word for nut is noce.
noce refers to a hard-shelled fruit.
Meaning: hard-shelled fruit (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of noce is noci.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈno.tʃe/.
Did you know?
- Noce is a cognate of the English word 'nucleus'. Both terms derive from the idea of a hard central core or a kernel.
- While noce is the general term for a nut, the specific English word 'walnut' is also translated as noce in Italian. This can lead to confusion when a recipe calls for 'noci' and you must determine if it means any nut or specifically walnuts.
- The word noce also refers to the walnut tree itself. In Italian, the same word is used for both the fruit and the plant it grows on.
Examples in context
- Una noce di cocco non è una noce.A coconut is not a nut.This sentence is useful for distinguishing a coconut from a noce.Tatoeba #5027632 by Guybrush88, translation #5027631 by don_ramon
- Una delle tante discussioni botaniche è la questione del Pecan. Per me è un frutto e non una noce.One of many botanical debates regards the question of the pecan To me, it's a fruit, and not a nut.This sentence illustrates a botanical debate regarding whether a pecan is a fruit or a noce.Tatoeba #13990784 by jacopofar, translation #12767694 by urro
- Lo scoiattolo mangia una noce.The squirrel is eating a nut.This sentence shows a squirrel eating a noce.Tatoeba #12623024 by Adelpa, translation #8345926 by Cxom
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are preparing a cake together.
- FrancescoGiulia, hai una noce in cucina?Giulia, do you have a nut in the kitchen?
- GiuliaSì, ne ho molte nella dispensa.Yes, I have many of them in the pantry.
- FrancescoPosso usare una noce per questo dolce?Can I use a nut for this dessert?
- GiuliaCertamente, Francesco, aggiungila pure.Of course, Francesco, go ahead and add it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nut” translations and entries noce, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
