cappelliera
feminine
The English phrase "parcel shelf" is cappelliera in Italian.
The term refers to the shelf located at the back of a car's interior. You may also use the more descriptive and technical term ripiano posteriore.
Meaning: a back shelf inside a car (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word cappelliera is derived from cappello (hat), and its literal meaning is a hat rack or a shelf for storing hats.
Which one should you use?
ripiano posteriore is a more technical or descriptive way to refer to the parcel shelf.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun cappelliera is feminine. Therefore, any articles or adjectives used with it must agree in gender, such as using la cappelliera.
Did you know?
- If an Italian tells you to put something in the cappelliera while in a hotel, they are referring to the luggage rack, not a car shelf.
- The term cappelliera acts as a linguistic fossil, preserving a social custom from an era when wearing a hat was an essential part of daily life.
- The suffix -iera in cappelliera is used in Italian to denote a container or a place where specific objects are kept, such as zuccheriera for a sugar bowl.
Examples in context
- Ricordati di mettere le valigie sul piano portabagagli!Remember to put the suitcases on the parcel shelf!
- La cappelliera è graffiata.The parcel shelf is scratched.
- Ho appoggiato le chiavi sulla cappelliera.I placed the keys on the parcel shelf.
- La cappelliera della macchina è rotta.The car's parcel shelf is broken.
Example conversation
Matteo is looking for something in the back of the car.
- SofiaCosa cerchi, Matteo?What are you looking for, Matteo?
- MatteoCerco il mio zaino sulla cappelliera.I'm looking for my backpack on the parcel shelf.
- SofiaÈ nascosto sotto i documenti.It is hidden under the documents.
- MatteoAh, ecco qui!Ah, here it is!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “parcel shelf” translations and entries cappelliera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
