pettirosso
The English word robin is translated into Italian as pettirosso.
pettirosso is a noun used to refer to any bird called a robin in English.
Meaning: any bird called robin in English (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of petto (breast) and rosso (red), literally meaning "red-breast".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pettirosso is pettirossi.
Did you know?
- In Italian folklore, the pettirosso is often seen as a symbol of hope and is believed to bring good luck to those who spot one in the winter.
- The composition of pettirosso follows a pattern where Italian often creates bird names by combining a body part with a color, such as 'capo nero' for a black-headed bird.
- While the English name 'robin' is often a diminutive of the name Robert, the Italian pettirosso is strictly descriptive of the bird's physical appearance.
Examples in context
- Il pettirosso è un uccello molto comune in Italia.The robin is a very common bird in Italy.
- Ho visto un pettirosso nel giardino.I saw a robin in the garden.
- Il pettirosso è un uccello molto carino.The robin is a very cute bird.
- C'è un pettirosso sul ramo.There is a robin on the branch.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are walking in a park.
- LorenzoGuarda, Martina, c'è un pettirosso lì!Look, Martina, there is a robin there!
- MartinaOh, che bello! È proprio piccolo.Oh, how beautiful! It is very small.
- LorenzoSì, il pettirosso ha un petto rosso.Yes, the robin has a red breast.
- MartinaLorenzo, è davvero un uccello meraviglioso.Lorenzo, it is truly a wonderful bird.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pettirosso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
