amico di penna
/aˈmi.ko di ˈpen.na/word by wordmasculine
The English phrase 'pen pal' is translated into Italian as amico di penna. Wiktionary also lists amica di penna.
Meaning: friend with whom one communicates using letters (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amico di penna | /aˈmi.ko di ˈpen.na/ (word by word) | masculine |
| amica di penna | /aˈmi.ka di ˈpen.na/ (word by word) | feminine |
amico di penna refers to a friend with whom one communicates using letters.
Which one should you use?
Use amico di penna if the pen pal is male and amica di penna if the pen pal is female.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to multiple pen pals, use the masculine or mixed plural form amici di penna or the feminine plural form amiche di penna.
Did you know?
- The word penna in Italian does not just mean 'pen', but also 'feather' and 'wing'.
- While amico di penna is the literal translation, Italians today often use the English term 'pen pal' or the phrase corrispondenza epistolare to describe the act of exchanging letters.
- If you are writing to a pen pal using a pencil, the Italian phrase amico di penna would still be used. This is because 'penna' is the standard term for all writing instruments in this context.
Examples in context
- È il suo amico di penna.He's her pen pal.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a pen pal using amico di penna.Tatoeba #11292629 by Guybrush88, translation #8401100 by Amastan
- Voglio un amico di penna.I want a pen pal.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for a pen pal using amico di penna.Tatoeba #6104914 by Guybrush88, translation #1264323 by CK
- Ho un amico di penna in Australia.I have a pen pal in Australia.This sentence is useful for stating the location of a pen pal using amico di penna.Tatoeba #5900264 by Guybrush88, translation #5193190 by CK
- Sto cercando un corrispondente italianoI'm looking for an Italian pen pal
- Desidero trovare un amico di penna italianoI wish to find an Italian pen pal
- Sto cercando un corrispondente italiano con cui posso migliorare il mio italiano.I'm looking for an Italian pen pal with whom I can improve my Italian.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are talking about their hobbies.
- LorenzoScrivi ancora a tuo amico di penna?Do you still write to your pen pal?
- GiuliaSì, ci scriviamo ogni mese.Yes, we write to each other every month.
- LorenzoÈ bello avere un amico di penna.It is nice to have a pen pal.
- GiuliaHai ragione, è molto emozionante.You are right, it is very exciting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pen pal” translations and entries amico di penna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (amico, di, penna, amica) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amica, amico, amico di penna, di, penna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
