falso
/ˈfal.so/
The English phrase "phoney" is translated into Italian as falso.
falso is used to describe something that is not genuine, such as a fake or counterfeit object. Additionally, it is the standard term used to describe something that is "false" in the context of logic or truth values.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective falso changes its ending to agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes: use falsa for feminine singular nouns, falsi for masculine plural nouns and false for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈfal.so/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian music notation, falso can refer to a 'false relation', where two notes of the same name but different accidentals sound dissonant.
- In Italian, if you call a person falso, it is a severe insult to their character, implying they are a hypocrite or a traitor rather than just a liar.
- The word falso comes from the Latin falsus, which is the past participle of fallere, meaning 'to deceive'.
Examples in context
- Mario è falsoMario is phoney.
- Lisa è un po' ipocritaLisa is a bit phoney.
- Marco è finto come un dollaro di plasticaMarco is as phoney as a plastic dollar.
- una falsa amicaA fake friend
- Questo è un documento falso.This is a fake document.
- Ha usato un nome falso.He used a fake name.
- Non credere a quel sorriso falso.Don't believe that fake smile.
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are looking at a luxury handbag.
- ChiaraGuarda questa borsa, costa pochissimo!Look at this bag, it costs very little!
- LorenzoSecondo me è un prodotto falso.In my opinion, it is a fake product.
- ChiaraMa sembra proprio originale.But it looks truly original.
- LorenzoNo Chiara, il materiale è decisamente falso.No Chiara, the material is definitely fake.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry falso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries falso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
