rettile
/ˈrɛt.ti.le/masculine
The Italian word for reptile is rettile. Wiktionary also lists reptilia.
Meaning: a cold-blooded vertebrate (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rettile | /ˈrɛt.ti.le/ | masculine |
| reptilia | feminine |
The term refers to a cold-blooded vertebrate.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈrɛt.ti.le/.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word rettile can be used as a metaphor to describe a person who is cold, calculating or lacking in human empathy.
- While rettile is the general term, Italians often use the word lucertola (lizard) as a generic placeholder for small reptiles in casual conversation.
- In Italian, the expression sangue freddo (cold blood) is used not just for a rettile, but to describe someone who stays calm under extreme pressure.
Examples in context
- Quale rettile vive più a lungo?Which reptile lives the longest?This sentence is useful for asking about the lifespan of a rettile.Tatoeba #10696874 by Guybrush88, translation #10556197 by tokzyk
- Un serpente è un tipo di rettile.A snake is a kind of reptile.This sentence is useful for identifying a snake as a type of rettile.Tatoeba #13644286 by Guybrush88, translation #13030094 by Ergulis
- L'aquila mangia il rettile.The eagle eats the reptile.This sentence is useful for describing an eagle eating a rettile.Tatoeba #11132013 by carlosalberto, translation #11131966 by carlosalberto
- Gli adulti e i bambini erano affascinati dai rettili presenti al museo.Adults and children were fascinated by the reptiles at the museum.
- I ragazzi erano eccitati ad osservare i rettili nel giardino del nonno.The kids were excited to observe the reptiles in their grandfather's garden.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are visiting a zoo.
- FrancescoGuarda, Sofia, che rettile incredibile!Look, Sofia, what an incredible reptile!
- SofiaÈ un coccodrillo molto grande.It is a very large crocodile.
- FrancescoIl rettile sembra dormire al sole.The reptile seems to be sleeping in the sun.
- SofiaSì, hanno bisogno di calore.Yes, they need heat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reptile” translations and entries rettile, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
