spalla
/ˈspal.la/feminine
The Italian word for shoulder is spalla.
Spalla refers to the anatomical joint between the arm and the torso. It is also used to describe the shoulder of a garment, such as a coat. Figuratively, the term can describe a person who acts as a supporter or a sidekick to someone else.
Meaning: joint between arm and torso (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Spalla is a feminine noun, which means it is used with feminine articles such as la or le. The plural form of spalla is spalle. To specify a side, you can use La spalla sinistra for the left shoulder.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈspal.la/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- Because of its link to the sword, spalla is a distant relative of the English word 'spatula', which also traces back to the same Latin root for a flat, blade-like object.
- In the world of Italian comedy and variety shows, the spalla is the 'straight man' who supports the main comic. This person provides the setup that allows the lead performer to deliver the punchline.
- The word spalla can also refer to the 'shoulder' of a wine, describing the part of the bottle that narrows toward the neck.
Examples in context
- Si ferì la spalla.She hurt her shoulder.This example shows how to express that someone hurt their spalla.Tatoeba #9565593 by Guybrush88, translation #7385331 by CH
- Gli toccò la spalla.She touched him on the shoulder.This sentence demonstrates using spalla when describing touching someone on the shoulder.Tatoeba #3291762 by Guybrush88, translation #887468 by CK
- Fu ferito alla spalla.He was wounded in the shoulder.This sentence shows how to state that someone was wounded in the spalla.Tatoeba #3759624 by Guybrush88, translation #295997 by CK
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are at a gym.
- FrancescoCome va l'allenamento, Sofia?How is the workout going, Sofia?
- SofiaBene, ma ho un dolore alla spalla.Good, but I have a pain in my shoulder.
- FrancescoDevi riposare la spalla oggi.You should rest your shoulder today.
- SofiaHai ragione, Francesco, grazie.You are right, Francesco, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoulder” translations and entries spalla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries spalla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
