squalo
/ˈskwa.lo/masculine
The English word 'shark' is translated into Italian as squalo. Wiktionary also lists pescecane.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| squalo | /ˈskwa.lo/ | masculine |
| pescecane | masculine |
Squalo is a masculine noun used to refer to the fish. The term pescecane can also be used to describe the animal, or figuratively to describe a person who behaves in a ruthless or cunning manner.
Which one should you use?
While both terms mean shark, squalo is the standard term for the animal. In contrast, pescecane is often used for smaller species or in a more colloquial sense.
How do you pronounce it?
squalo is pronounced /ˈskwa.lo/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While squalo is the standard word for the predator, pescecane describes a shark as a 'dog fish'. This reflects an ancient belief that sharks were the 'dogs of the sea' due to their keen sense of smell and predatory nature.
- While English uses 'loan shark' for predatory lending, Italian uses the word usuraio. The term squalo describes the person's character, but not the specific crime of usury.
- The term squalo likely entered the Italian language from the Latin word squālus, which was used to describe this predator centuries ago.
Examples in context
- Ha mai visto uno squalo?Have you ever seen a shark?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has seen a squalo.Tatoeba #13346502 by Guybrush88, translation #5182624 by CK
- Aiuto! Ho visto uno squalo!Help! I saw a shark!This sentence is useful for expressing a need for help after seeing a squalo.Tatoeba #12938796 by Guybrush88, translation #12890771 by araneo
- Venne attaccato da uno squalo.He was attacked by a shark.This sentence is useful for describing being attacked by a squalo.Tatoeba #1168573 by Guybrush88, translation #1168378 by Scott
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are watching a nature documentary.
- FrancescoGuarda, c'è uno squalo in quel documentario!Look, there is a shark in that documentary!
- GiuliaÈ davvero uno squalo enorme.It is a truly huge shark.
- FrancescoSpero che non sia vicino alla costa.I hope it is not near the coast.
- GiuliaSì, Francesco, non preoccuparti troppo.Yes, Francesco, don't worry too much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shark” translations and entries squalo, pescecane, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pescecane, squalo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
