scarabeo
/ska.raˈbɛ.o/
The Italian word for scarab is scarabeo.
scarabeo refers to the Scarabaeidae.
Meaning: Scarabaeidae (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ska.raˈbɛ.o/.
Did you know?
- While scarabeo describes the beetle, Italians use the word scarafaggio for a cockroach, and the two are frequently confused by learners due to their similar sounds.
- In Italian culture, the scarabeo is often associated with the phrase portafortuna, meaning a lucky charm, mirroring the ancient Egyptian belief in the beetle as a symbol of rebirth.
- In some historical Italian texts, particularly those influenced by Renaissance studies of Egypt, scarabeo is used to refer specifically to the gemstone amulets rather than the living insect.
Examples in context
- Sai qualcosa su quei coleotteri esposti qui?Do you know anything about those beetles exhibited here?
- Ho visto uno scarabeo verde in giardino.I saw a green scarab in the garden.
- Lo scarabeo vola sopra i fiori.The scarab flies over the flowers.
- Quel piccolo scarabeo è molto colorato.That little scarab is very colorful.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are walking through a botanical garden.
- ChiaraGuarda, Matteo, c'è uno scarabeo su quella foglia!Look, Matteo, there is a scarab on that leaf!
- MatteoÈ bellissimo, ha le ali lucide.It is beautiful, it has shiny wings.
- ChiaraNon si sposta mai.It doesn't move at all.
- MatteoForse sta solo riposando.Maybe it is just resting.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry scarabeo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
