barboncino
/bar.bonˈt͡ʃi.no/masculine
The English word 'poodle' is translated into Italian as barboncino. Wiktionary also lists barbone.
Meaning: dog breed (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| barboncino | /bar.bonˈt͡ʃi.no/ | masculine |
| barbone | /barˈbo.ne/ |
The term is used to identify the specific breed of dog. barboncino is the most common way to refer to the breed in general, often implying the smaller varieties.
Which one should you use?
barboncino is the diminutive form. The term barbone also exists.
How does it change in a sentence?
barboncino is a masculine noun. To refer to a group of poodles, use the plural form barboncini. If you want to specify that the poodle is female, use the feminine form barboncina.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /bar.bonˈtʃi.no/.
Did you know?
- In modern Italian, barbone is a common slang term for a homeless person, referring to the long, unkempt beards typically associated with the lifestyle.
- The name for a poodle is rooted in the physical appearance of the dog, as the word barbone is literally built from the word for 'beard'.
- In Italian, the suffix -one makes a word larger, meaning that a barbone is effectively a 'big beard' whereas a barboncino is a 'little beard'.
Examples in context
- Il mio cane è un barboncino nero.My dog is a black poodle.
- Sono appassionato dei cani di razza Barbone.I am passionate about purebred poodles.
- In Italia, il barboncino è popolare come animale da compagnia.In Italy, the poodle is popular as a pet.
- Il mio barboncino è molto intelligente.My poodle is very intelligent.
- Hai visto quel barboncino bianco?Did you see that white poodle?
- Voglio un barboncino come animale domestico.I want a poodle as a pet.
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are at a dog park.
- MatteoGuarda quel bellissimo barboncino!Look at that beautiful poodle!
- GiuliaSì, è davvero carino.Yes, it is really cute.
- MatteoÈ il cane di un mio amico.It is a friend of mine's dog.
- GiuliaÈ molto ben curato.It is very well groomed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “poodle” translations and entries barboncino, barbone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries barboncino, barbone, CC BY-SA 4.0.
