Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sovrappeso | /so.vrapˈpe.zo/ /so.vrapˈpe.so/ |
masculine |
| in sovrappeso | /in so.vrapˈpe.zo/ (word by word) |
This term is used to describe a person who is heavier than what is considered healthy. While sovrappeso is a clinical or neutral term, avoid using grasso to describe someone, as it is much more blunt and can be offensive.
What does it mean word for word?
The word sovrappeso is a compound consisting of sovra-, meaning 'over' or 'above' and peso, meaning 'weight'.
Which one should you use?
You can use the adjective sovrappeso directly or the prepositional phrase in sovrappeso to describe a person's state of being overweight.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, sovrappeso must agree in gender and number with the person it describes. Use sovrappeso for masculine singular, sovrappesa for feminine singular, sovrappesi for masculine plural and sovrappese for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables and the stress is on the third syllable: /so.vrapˈpe.zo/.
Did you know?
- The prefix sovra- appears in the word sovrappensiero, which describes someone who is daydreaming or lost in thought.
- While sovrappeso is the standard term, if you want to be more polite when describing someone with a larger build, you might use the term robusto, which translates to 'robust'.
- The root word peso is used in the idiom mettere peso a qualcosa, which means to emphasize or give importance to a specific point in an argument.
Examples in context
- È un po' sovrappeso.You're a little overweight.This sentence shows how to use sovrappeso to describe someone's weight mildly.Tatoeba #5796042 by Guybrush88, translation #2713254 by CK
- Tom non è sovrappeso.Tom isn't overweight.This sentence uses sovrappeso to negate a statement about someone's weight.Tatoeba #4247477 by Guybrush88, translation #3412984 by CK
- Io non sono sovrappeso.I'm not overweight.This sentence uses sovrappeso to negate a statement about one's own weight.Tatoeba #3841180 by Guybrush88, translation #3330235 by CK
- Mi piace quel ragazzo cicciottello, sembra così accogliente!I like that slightly overweight boy, he seems so welcoming!
- Mia nipote è una bambina grassottella, ha le guance così rotonde!My niece is a chubby girl, she has such round cheeks!
- 153 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are discussing a health check-up.
- ChiaraCosa ha detto il medico di Alessandro?What did the doctor say about Alessandro?
- AlessandroHa detto che sono un po' sovrappeso.He said that I am a bit overweight.
- ChiaraDevi iniziare a fare più sport.You need to start exercising more.
- AlessandroSì, voglio rimettermi in forma.Yes, I want to get back in shape.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “overweight” translations and entries sovrappeso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (in, sovrappeso) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
