sabbia
/ˈsab.bja/feminine
In Italian, the English word 'sand' is translated as sabbia. Wiktionary also lists rena.
Meaning: finely ground rock (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sabbia | /ˈsab.bja/ | feminine |
| rena | /ˈre.na/ | feminine |
The word refers to finely ground rock. You can use the verb insabbiare to mean 'to cover with sand', though in a technical or figurative sense, it can also mean to stall or bury a project or matter.
Which one should you use?
While sabbia is the standard term, rena is a literary or poetic word for sand, often used in literature or to describe a sandy shore in an evocative way.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both sabbia and rena are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsab.bja/. The word has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The literary word rena comes from the Latin arēna, which originally referred to the sand used to cover the floors of amphitheaters to soak up blood.
- In Italian political jargon, the verb insabbiare is frequently used to describe the act of intentionally burying a scandal or a criminal investigation to make it disappear.
- Italian uses the word sabbia in the expression fare castelli di sabbia, which can figuratively mean creating something fragile and destined to fail.
Examples in context
- Io odio la sabbia.I hate sand.This sentence shows how to express a dislike for sabbia.Tatoeba #3365685 by Guybrush88, translation #1923379 by Spamster
- La sabbia è calda.Sand is hot.This sentence describes the temperature of sabbia.Tatoeba #4033960 by Guybrush88, translation #1035750 by riccioberto
- La sabbia era calda.The sand was warm.This sentence uses the past tense to describe the temperature of sabbia.Tatoeba #4534220 by Guybrush88, translation #3305876 by Hybrid
- Mi piace camminare sulla sabbiaI like walking on the sand
- Durante le vacanze, ho camminato sulla sabbia calda e finissima.During the vacation, I walked on the warm and fine sand.
- 179 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are walking along the seashore.
- LorenzoGuarda che bella sabbia, Sofia!Look what beautiful sand, Sofia!
- SofiaSì, Lorenzo, è davvero soffice.Yes, Lorenzo, it is really soft.
- LorenzoTi piace camminare sulla sabbia?Do you like walking on the sand?
- SofiaSì, ma non voglio sporcarmi i piedi.Yes, but I don't want to get my feet dirty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sand” translations and entries sabbia, rena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rena, sabbia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
