sciare
/ʃiˈa.re/
The Italian word for 'ski' is sciare.
sciare is the verb used to describe the action of moving on skis. When referring to the sport of cross-country skiing, you use the phrase sci di fondo.
Meaning: one of a pair of long flat runners designed for gliding over snow (noun)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the equipment and the action: sci is the singular noun for a single ski, whereas sciare is the verb meaning to ski.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the noun for a single ski is sci.
How do you pronounce it?
The word sciare has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. It is pronounced /ʃiˈa.re/.
When do people say it?
In the context of mountain resorts, the term impianti di risalita refers to ski lifts.
Did you know?
- The Italian word sci is an invariable noun, meaning its spelling does not change whether you are talking about one single 'ski' or a pair of 'skis'.
- The Italian verb sciare might be an onomatopoeia, mimicking the sound of the ski slicing through the snow.
- A strange etymological theory suggests the word sciare could be related to the Ancient Greek word for 'hip-bone', ĭskhĭ́on.
Examples in context
- Io non so sciare.I don't know how to ski.This sentence is useful for expressing an inability to ski using sciare.Tatoeba #6707027 by Guybrush88, translation #6666562 by CK
- Tom non sa sciare.Tom doesn't know how to ski.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone else does not know how to ski using sciare.Tatoeba #4414001 by Guybrush88, translation #1094461 by CK
- Non riesce a sciare.He can't ski.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of ability to ski using sciare.Tatoeba #8913447 by Guybrush88, translation #8476391 by CH
- Scusa, dove posso sciare qui?Excuse me, where can I ski here?
- Vuoi andare a sciare domani?Do you want to go skiing tomorrow?
- 54 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are planning a winter vacation.
- MartinaTi piacerebbe andare in montagna per sciare?Would you like to go to the mountains to ski?
- LorenzoSì, ma non scio da molti anni.Yes, but I haven't skied for many years.
- MartinaPossiamo prendere un corso per sciare insieme.We can take a course to ski together.
- LorenzoOttima idea, Lorenzo è d'accordo!Great idea, Lorenzo agrees!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sciare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sciare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
