cuscino
/kuʃˈʃi.no/masculine
The English word "pillow" is translated into Italian as cuscino. Wiktionary also lists guanciale and testiera.
Meaning: soft cushion used to support the head in bed (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cuscino | /kuʃˈʃi.no/ | masculine |
| guanciale | masculine | |
| testiera | feminine |
The term refers to a soft cushion used to support the head in bed.
Which one should you use?
The standard term for a pillow is cuscino. In contrast, testiera refers to the headboard of a bed, not the pillow itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cuscino is cuscini.
How do you pronounce it?
cuscino is pronounced /kuʃˈʃi.no/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use guanciale to mean a pillow. This word refers to a type of cured pork cheek used in Italian cooking.
Did you know?
- The word cuscino comes from the Latin word coxa, which means 'hip' or 'thigh'.
- Mistaking guanciale for a pillow in a restaurant or hotel could lead to a very confusing request for cured meat in the bedroom.
Examples in context
- Non sono un cuscino.I am not a pillow.This sentence is useful for using the word cuscino in a negative statement.Tatoeba #8931864 by Guybrush88, translation #4987581 by Muelisto
- Gli lanciò un cuscino.She threw a pillow at him.This sentence is useful for using the word cuscino to describe an action.Tatoeba #7524302 by Guybrush88, translation #4049040 by Hybrid
- Posso avere un cuscino?Can I get a pillow?This sentence is useful for using the word cuscino when making a request.Tatoeba #376647 by Pharamp, translation #322499 by CK
- Ho bisogno di un cuscino comodo per dormire bene.I need a comfortable pillow to sleep well.
- Quel vecchio guanciale è ormai troppo sfruttato.That old pillow is too worn out now.
- Ho trovato un grazioso guancialino da mettere sul divano.I found a lovely little pillow to put on the couch.
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are preparing the guest room.
- LorenzoHai trovato il cuscino per l'ospite?Did you find the pillow for the guest?
- MartinaSì, è dentro l'armadio.Yes, it is inside the wardrobe.
- LorenzoOttimo, prendi anche il cuscino bianco.Great, take the white pillow too.
- MartinaVa bene, lo prendo subito.Okay, I will get it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pillow” translations and entries cuscino, guanciale, testiera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuscino, guanciale, testiera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
