francobollo
/fran.koˈbol.lo/masculine
The English phrase "postage stamp" is translated into Italian as francobollo. Wiktionary also lists marca da bollo.
Meaning: piece of paper indicating postage has been paid (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| francobollo | /fran.koˈbol.lo/ | masculine |
| marca da bollo | /ˈmar.ka da ˈbol.lo/ (word by word) | feminine |
In Italian, the term for a piece of paper indicating that postage has been paid depends on what the stamp is being used for.
Which one should you use?
Use francobollo specifically for a postage stamp used for mail. In contrast, marca da bollo refers to a revenue stamp used for official or legal documents rather than for mailing letters.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun francobollo becomes francobolli in its plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
francobollo is pronounced /fran.koˈbol.lo/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word bollo has a homonym that is a derivative of the verb bollire, meaning 'to boil'.
- Collectors of francobolli in Italy are called filatelisti, a term derived from the Greek words for 'friend' and 'letter'.
- In Italy, the purchase of a marca da bollo is often a bureaucratic requirement for validating a legal document, effectively acting as a physical tax payment.
Examples in context
- Mi serve un francobollo per spedire questa lettera.I need a postage stamp to send this letter.
- Mi serve un francobollo per questa lettera.I need a postage stamp for this letter.
- Hai un francobollo da prestarmi?Do you have a postage stamp to lend me?
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are preparing to mail a card.
- LorenzoGiulia, hai un francobollo?Giulia, do you have a postage stamp?
- GiuliaNo, non ne ho uno con me.No, I don't have one with me.
- LorenzoAllora vado io a comprarlo.Then I will go buy it.
- GiuliaGrazie, Lorenzo, sei molto gentile.Thanks, Lorenzo, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “postage stamp” translations and entries francobollo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (marca, da, bollo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bollo, da, francobollo, marca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
