calzolaio
/kal.t͡soˈla.jo/masculine
The Italian word for shoemaker is calzolaio.
calzolaio refers to a person who makes shoes. In the context of this profession, you might encounter terms such as Pelle (leather), Suola (sole), Riparare (to repair), Disegnare (to design) and Fabbricare (to manufacture).
Meaning: a person who makes shoes (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun changes based on gender and number. The masculine singular is calzolaio, while the feminine singular is calzolaia. For a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural calzolai.
How do you pronounce it?
/kal.tsoˈla.jo/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word calzolaio shares its roots with the English word 'calcaneus', which refers to the heel bone. Both words stem from the Latin 'calceus', meaning 'shoe'.
- Italian has a specific distinction between a calzolaio, who works on the shoe itself, and a cuoiamaio, a specialized leather worker who prepares the hides.
- In Italian, the word calze means 'socks' or 'stockings', which shares the same linguistic root as calzolaio.
Examples in context
- Mio padre è un esperto calzolaio che crea magnifiche scarpe italiane.My father is a skilled shoemaker who creates magnificent Italian shoes.
- Il calzolaio ripara le scarpe.The shoemaker repairs the shoes.
- Il calzolaio ripara le mie scarpe.The shoemaker repairs my shoes.
- Mio nonno era un bravo calzolaio.My grandfather was a good shoemaker.
- Cerco un calzolaio in questo quartiere.I am looking for a shoemaker in this neighborhood.
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are walking in the city center.
- AlessandroSofia, conosci un buon calzolaio qui vicino?Sofia, do you know a good shoemaker near here?
- SofiaSì, c'è un calzolaio proprio dietro l'angolo.Yes, there is a shoemaker right around the corner.
- AlessandroPerfetto, devo far riparare questi stivali.Perfect, I need to have these boots repaired.
- SofiaAllora Alessandro, andiamo subito da lui.Then Alessandro, let's go to him right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoemaker” translations and entries calzolaio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calzolaio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
