pinze
feminine, plural
The English word 'pliers' is translated into Italian as pinze. Wiktionary also lists pinza.
Meaning: gripping tool which multiplies the strength of the user's hand (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pinze | feminine, plural | |
| pinza | /ˈpin.t͡sa/ | feminine |
The term refers to a gripping tool designed to multiply the strength of the user's hand. Pinza is the most common word for this tool and is recognized across all regions.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the plural 'pliers' for a single tool, Italian can use the singular pinza to refer to one pair of pliers.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Italian, you can use the singular feminine noun pinza to refer to a single tool. The plural feminine form is pinze.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word pinza is also used to describe a crab's claw or a lobster's pincer. This biological connection is why the tool shares the same name.
- The French origin of the word, pince, shares a common Latin ancestor with the English word 'pinch'.
- In some technical contexts, you might encounter the word pinzette, which is the diminutive form used to describe tweezers.
Examples in context
- Lascia stare, usa la pinzolina per toglierlo.Forget it, use the little pliers to remove it.
- Prendi le pinze, per favore.Get the pliers, please.
- Le pinze sono nel cassetto.The pliers are in the drawer.
- Ti servono le pinze per questo lavoro?Do you need the pliers for this job?
- Passami le pinze, per favore.Pass me the pliers, please.
Example conversation
Alessandro is fixing a bicycle in the garage.
- GiuliaAlessandro, hai bisogno di aiuto?Alessandro, do you need help?
- AlessandroSì, mi servirebbero le pinze.Yes, I would need the pliers.
- GiuliaEcco le pinze che cercavi.Here are the pliers you were looking for.
- AlessandroGrazie mille, Giulia.Thanks a lot, Giulia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pliers” translations and entries pinze, pinza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pinza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
