matita
/maˈti.ta/feminine
The English word "pencil" is translated into Italian as matita or lapis.
Meaning: graphite writing-instrument (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| matita | /maˈti.ta/ | feminine |
| lapis | /ˈla.pis/ | masculine |
Both words refer to a graphite writing instrument.
Which one should you use?
matita is the standard, most common word for a pencil used in everyday Italian.
How does it change in a sentence?
The common feminine noun matita becomes matite in its plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /maˈti.ta/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- While matita describes the instrument, the actual core inside is called 'mina', which is also the word for a landmine.
- Italian has a specific noun for the act of sharpening a matita called temperare, which literally means 'to temper' or 'to harden' metal.
- The word matita is a linguistic relic from an era before graphite, as it is derived from 'ematite', a form of iron ore once used for writing.
Examples in context
- È la mia matita.That's my pencil.This sentence shows how to identify your matita.Tatoeba #11548559 by Guybrush88, translation #1196221 by FiRez
- Non è una matita.That isn't a pencil.This sentence uses matita in a negative statement.Tatoeba #7018638 by Guybrush88, translation #6357423 by CK
- Mi dia la matita.Give me the pencil.This sentence is a request to receive the matita.Tatoeba #11548574 by Guybrush88, translation #4748877 by reblica
- Hai una matita che posso prendere in prestito?Do you have a pencil I can borrow?
- 495 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are in a classroom.
- ChiaraAlessandro, hai una matita per me?Alessandro, do you have a pencil for me?
- AlessandroSì, ne ho una nello zaino.Yes, I have one in the backpack.
- ChiaraGrazie, mi serve per questo disegno.Thanks, I need it for this drawing.
- AlessandroPrego, tieni pure la mia matita.You're welcome, just take my pencil.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pencil” translations and entries matita, lapis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lapis, matita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
