riciclare
/ri.t͡ʃiˈkla.re/
To recycle in Italian is riciclare.
The verb riciclare is the standard term for breaking down and reusing component materials. It is also used in the specific context of money laundering, most commonly in the phrase riciclare il denaro.
Meaning: to break down and reuse component materials (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word contains the prefix ri-, which functions like the English prefix 're-' meaning 'again' or 'back'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ri.tʃiˈkla.re/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the verb riciclare with riciclo, which is the noun meaning 'recycling'. Use riciclare when you want to express the action of recycling.
Did you know?
- While riciclare is used for materials and money, Italians often use differenziare when talking about the act of sorting trash into different bins.
- The word riciclare can also be used metaphorically in Italian to describe 'reusing' or 'reworking' an old idea or a piece of music in a new way.
- The word ciclo inside riciclare comes from the Greek 'kyklos' meaning 'circle' or 'wheel'.
Examples in context
- Riusciamo a riciclare questo?Can we recycle this?This sentence is useful for asking if a specific item can be recycled using riciclare.Tatoeba #6829250 by Guybrush88, translation #4797549 by ravas
- Perché è importante riciclare?Why is it important to recycle?This sentence is useful for asking about the importance of recycling using riciclare.Tatoeba #5385057 by Guybrush88, translation #3737802 by CK
- Abbiamo iniziato a riciclare i giornali.We have started to recycle newspapers.This sentence is useful for describing the start of a recycling habit for newspapers using riciclare.Tatoeba #1545137 by Guybrush88, translation #248909 by CC
- Per favore, ricicla le bottiglie di plastica.Please, recycle the plastic bottles.
- Ti ricordi di fare la raccolta differenziata domani?Do you remember to do separate waste collection tomorrow?
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are cleaning the kitchen together.
- GiuliaDobbiamo riciclare queste bottiglie di plastica.We need to recycle these plastic bottles.
- LorenzoHai ragione, dove si buttano?You're right, where do they go?
- GiuliaIl bidone per riciclare è fuori.The bin for recycling is outside.
- LorenzoVa bene, le porto io subito.Alright, I'll take them out right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “recycle” translations and entries riciclare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
