How to Say "Shellac" in Italian

gommalacca

/ˌɡom.maˈlak.ka/feminine

Shellac in Italian is gommalacca.

The word refers to the processed secretion of the lac insect.

Meaning: processed secretion of the lac insect (noun)

Which one should you use?

While gommalacca is the noun used for the substance itself, laccare is the related verb meaning to coat or lacquer something.

The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the third syllable: /ˌɡom.maˈlak.ka/.

In Italian, lacca is the common word for 'hairspray'. If you say you are using lacca in a beauty salon, you are not varnishing the floor but styling hair.
Italian luthiers often distinguish between gommalacca and other synthetic varnishes because shellac can be dissolved and reapplied without damaging the original wood of a violin.
The Italian word gomma is used for both 'rubber' and 'eraser'. If you ask for a gomma in a classroom, people will assume you want to rub out a mistake rather than a piece of raw rubber.

Al lavoro ho dovuto usare della vernice gommalacca.
At work, I had to use some shellac.
Mi puoi passare il barattolo di gommalacca, per favore?
Can you pass me the jar of shellac, please?
Luisa è molto brava a fare la laccatura a gommalacca sui mobili.
Luisa is very skilled at shellac coating on furniture.
Scusa, con 'gommalacca' intendevo il laccato trasparente.
Sorry, by 'gommalacca' I meant the transparent coating.
La gommalacca è usata per lucidare i mobili.
Shellac is used to polish furniture.
La gommalacca serve per lucidare il legno.
Shellac is used to polish wood.
Ho comprato un barattolo di gommalacca.
I bought a jar of shellac.
Questa gommalacca è di ottima qualità.
This shellac is of excellent quality.

Martina and Alessandro are in a woodworking workshop.

Martina

Alessandro, hai preso la gommalacca?
Alessandro, did you get the shellac?
Alessandro

Sì, l'ho messa sul tavolo.
Yes, I put it on the table.
Martina

Perfetto, usiamo questa gommalacca per il mobile.
Perfect, let's use this shellac for the piece of furniture.
Alessandro

Va bene, iniziamo subito il lavoro.
Alright, let's start the work right away.

Sources

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