carta
/ˈkar.ta/feminine
The Italian word for "paper" is carta, a feminine noun for the sheet material you write or print on.
carta is used for many kinds of paper, including writing paper and newspaper and it can also mean a playing card.
Meaning: sheet material (noun)
Which one should you use?
carta names the material. For a single sheet of paper Italians use foglio.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
carta is feminine. To say something is made of paper, use di carta or the adjective cartaceo.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /ˈkar.ta/. It has two syllables with the stress on the first, and the r is lightly rolled.
Did you know?
- The Italian expression fare carta canta suggests that written documents are more reliable than spoken promises, essentially meaning 'the paper sings'.
- The word carta is used in the phrase carta d'identità for an identity card, even though modern IDs are made of plastic.
- The word carta shares its roots with the English word 'chart', both tracing back to the Greek word for papyrus.
Examples in context
- La carta è bianca.Paper is white.La carta è bianca uses the article with the noun to talk about paper in general.Tatoeba #1065017 by Guybrush88, translation #609679 by kroko
- Tom finì la carta.Tom ran out of paper.finì la carta means "ran out of paper".Tatoeba #5975888 by Guybrush88, translation #5754569 by CM
- Quella non è carta.That isn't paper.Quella non è carta means "That isn't paper".Tatoeba #7015627 by Guybrush88, translation #6358136 by CK
- Ho bisogno di carta per la presentazione di domani.I need paper for tomorrow's presentation.
- Dovremmo stampare il rapporto su carta di alta qualità.We should print the report on high-quality paper.
- Voglio essere sicuro di aver portato abbastanza carta per la riunione.I want to make sure I brought enough paper for the meeting.
- Ogni volta che scrivo qualcosa, lo perdo sempre sotto un monte di fogli.Every time I write something, I always lose it under a pile of paper.
- Qui c'è un foglio vuoto, puoi fare un disegno.Here's a blank sheet of paper, you can draw on it.
- Ho trovato un foglio di carta interessante nel parco.I found an interesting piece of paper in the park.
- Ho bisogno di alcuni fogli per l'esame.I need some papers for the exam.
- 292 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are in their shared office.
- MartinaMatteo, hai della carta?Matteo, do you have some paper?
- MatteoSì, è sopra la scrivania.Yes, it is on the desk.
- MartinaGrazie, ne ho bisogno per un disegno.Thanks, I need it for a drawing.
- MatteoPrendila pure, Martina.Go ahead and take it, Martina.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paper” translations and entries carta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
