ciuccio
/ˈt͡ʃut.t͡ʃo/masculine
The Italian word for pacifier is ciuccio. Wiktionary also lists ciucciotto and succhiotto.
Meaning: for a baby (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ciuccio | /ˈt͡ʃut.t͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| ciucciotto | masculine | |
| succhiotto | /sukˈkjɔt.to/ | masculine |
| tettarella | /tet.taˈrɛl.la/ | feminine |
All the words in this list refer to a pacifier used for a baby.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ciuccio is derived from the verb ciucciare, which means 'to suck'.
Which one should you use?
succhiotto is more colloquial than the standard term ciuccio.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
succhiotto is a more colloquial or informal way to refer to a pacifier.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms provided are either masculine or feminine nouns: ciuccio and ciucciotto are masculine, while tettarella is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word ciuccio is pronounced /ˈtʃut.tʃo/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While ciuccio is the common term for a pacifier, succhiotto can also mean a 'hickey' or a love bite in Italian slang.
- The word ciuccio has an unexpected connection to animals, as it is actually a variant of the word ciuco, which means 'donkey'.
- In Italy, the act of giving a baby a pacifier is often described using the verb dare il ciuccio, which can colloquially mean 'to deceive' or 'to distract' someone.
Examples in context
- Mio figlio non vuole rinunciare al ciuccio.My son doesn't want to give up his pacifier.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the word ciuccio in the context of a child's refusal to give it up.Tatoeba #11631183 by Nuel, translation #11676715 by ddnktr
- Scusi, dove posso trovare un ciuccio per neonati?Excuse me, where can I find a pacifier for infants?
- Ho bisogno di acquistare un succhiotto per un regalo.I need to buy a pacifier as a gift.
- Dov'è il ciuccio del bambino?Where is the baby's pacifier?
- Ho comprato un nuovo ciuccio.I bought a new pacifier.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are in the living room looking for something.
- GiuliaLorenzo, hai visto il ciuccio?Lorenzo, have you seen the pacifier?
- LorenzoNo, non l'ho visto.No, I haven't seen it.
- GiuliaIl bambino lo vuole subito.The baby wants it right now.
- LorenzoGuarda, è sotto il divano.Look, it is under the sofa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pacifier” translations and entries ciuccio, ciucciotto, succhiotto, tettarella, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciuccio, succhiotto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
