straccio
/ˈstrat.t͡ʃo/masculine
In Italian, the English phrase "rag" can be translated as straccio or cencio.
Meaning: piece of cloth (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| straccio | /ˈstrat.t͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| cencio | /ˈt͡ʃen.t͡ʃo/ | masculine |
You will also encounter the idiomatic expression essere uno straccio, which is used to describe someone who feels physically or emotionally exhausted or broken.
Which one should you use?
While both mean rag, cencio is more colloquial and often implies a worn-out, useless piece of cloth, whereas straccio is the standard term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of straccio is stracci. The plural form of cencio is cenci.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈstrat.tʃo/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word cencio has a mysterious lineage that may trace back to the Ancient Greek word kéntrōn. This connects a simple Italian piece of cloth to an ancient linguistic root that is not immediately obvious to modern speakers.
- Unlike English, where 'rag' can be a slang term for a low-quality newspaper, Italian uses different terms for poor journalism and does not apply straccio to the press.
- In certain Italian contexts, describing someone as a cencio might imply they are socially or physically 'ragged', similar to how one might call a person a 'wastrel' or someone of no consequence.
Examples in context
- La pioggia ha ridotto questo vestito uno straccio.The rain has reduced this dress to a rag.This sentence is useful for seeing how the idiom works when describing how something has been reduced to a state of being a straccio.
- Scusi, può passarmi un panno per pulire il tavolo?Excuse me, could you pass me a rag to clean the table?
- Signore, avete uno strofinaccio che posso usare per pulire questa macchia?Sir, do you have a rag I can use to clean this stain?
- Posso prendere uno straccio per pulire questa superficie?Can I grab a rag to clean this surface?
- Ora trovo un cencio e puliamo tutto in un attimo!Now let's find a rag and clean everything up in no time!
- Usa uno straccio per pulire il tavolo.Use a rag to clean the table.
- Ho buttato via lo straccio vecchio.I threw away the old rag.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are cleaning the kitchen together.
- LorenzoSofia, dove hai messo lo straccio?Sofia, where did you put the rag?
- SofiaÈ sopra il lavandino, Lorenzo.It is on top of the sink, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoNon lo vedo, è sporco?I don't see it, is it dirty?
- SofiaSì, prendine uno straccio nuovo.Yes, take a new rag.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rag” translations and entries straccio, cencio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cencio, straccio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
