intestino tenue
The English phrase "small intestine" is translated into Italian as intestino tenue.
intestino tenue is the term used to refer to the upper part of the intestine.
Meaning: upper part of the intestine (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of intestino (intestine) and the adjective tenue (thin, slender or tenuous).
Which one should you use?
While intestino tenue refers to the small intestine, the term intestino crasso is used for the large intestine.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of intestino tenue is intestini tenui.
Did you know?
- In Italian legal and formal language, the word tenue is used in the phrase tenue attenuante to describe a 'slight' or 'minor' mitigating circumstance in a crime.
- While tenue describes the small intestine's diameter, in an artistic context it describes a 'subtle' or 'delicate' touch, such as a light brushstroke in a painting.
- While a doctor would use intestino tenue, a common person might colloquially refer to their 'gut' using the word ventre, which more broadly means 'belly' or 'abdomen'.
Examples in context
- L'intestino tenue è responsabile dell'assorbimento dei nutrienti nel corpo umano.The small intestine is responsible for nutrient absorption in the human body.
- L'intestino tenue è molto lungo.The small intestine is very long.
- Hanno riscontrato un'infiammazione nell'intestino tenue.They found inflammation in the small intestine.
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are discussing a medical report at home.
- GiuliaMatteo, cosa dice il referto sull'intestino tenue?Matteo, what does the report say about the small intestine?
- MatteoDice che l'intestino tenue è in salute.It says the small intestine is healthy.
- GiuliaChe sollievo per te!What a relief for you!
- MatteoSì, sono molto contento.Yes, I am very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “small intestine” translations and entries intestino tenue, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
