ratto
/ˈrat.to/masculine
The English word rat can be translated into Italian using ratto, topo or sorcio.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ratto | /ˈrat.to/ | masculine |
| topo | /ˈtɔ.po/ | masculine |
| sorcio | /ˈsor.t͡ʃo/ | masculine |
Which one should you use?
While ratto specifically refers to a rat, topo is a general term used for both mice and rats in everyday conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ratto is /ˈrat.to/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word ratto is a rare example of a word in Italian that has a direct ancestor in Germanic languages, specifically the Proto-Germanic *rattaz.
- If you are talking about a 'rat' in a computer science context in Italy, you are more likely to hear the English word than the Italian ratto.
- The word sorcio is a way to say 'rat' that feels more regional or dialectal compared to the standard ratto.
Examples in context
- È carne di ratto.It's rat meat.This sentence is useful for identifying the meat of a ratto.Tatoeba #2697097 by Guybrush88, translation #2697098 by CM
- Il ratto è vivo o morto?Is the rat alive or dead?This sentence is useful for asking about the state of a ratto.Tatoeba #2514941 by Guybrush88, translation #625907 by rpglover64
- Il gatto mangiò il ratto.The cat ate the rat.This sentence is useful for describing an action involving a ratto.Tatoeba #7833145 by Guybrush88, translation #7779325 by sharris123
- Il laboratorio è infestato da topi.The laboratory is infested with rats.
- La ricerca dimostra l'intelligenza dei ratti.The research demonstrates the intelligence of rats.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are looking at a hole in the basement wall.
- MartinaHai visto un ratto laggiù?Did you see a rat down there?
- LorenzoSì, un ratto grigio è passato veloce.Yes, a grey rat passed by quickly.
- MartinaDobbiamo chiamare qualcuno per quel ratto.We need to call someone for that rat.
- LorenzoHai ragione, Lorenzo lo chiamerà subito.You are right, Lorenzo will call him immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rat” translations and entries ratto, topo, sorcio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ratto, sorcio, topo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
