ciuccio
/ˈt͡ʃut.t͡ʃo/
The Italian word for soother is ciuccio.
ciuccio refers to a rubber or silicone nipple given to a baby to suck on for comfort.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ciuccio is ciucci.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ˈtʃut.tʃo/. The stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- Because of its root in the word for 'donkey', calling someone a ciuccio in Italy is a mild way of calling them stupid.
- In Italian, the word ciuccio is also used in a common idiom fare il ciuccio, meaning to act like a fool or a child.
- The word ciuccio shares an unlikely ancestry with the word for 'donkey', which is ciuco.
Examples in context
- Mia sorella ha comprato un nuovo ciuccio per il bambino.My sister bought a new soother for the baby.
- Il bambino vuole il suo ciuccio.The baby wants his soother.
- Hai dimenticato il ciuccio in borsa?Did you forget the soother in the bag?
- Devo comprare un nuovo ciuccio.I need to buy a new soother.
Example conversation
A couple is preparing for a walk with their baby.
- SofiaFrancesco, hai preso il ciuccio?Francesco, did you take the soother?
- FrancescoSì, ce l'ho in tasca.Yes, I have it in my pocket.
- SofiaPerfetto, allora siamo pronti.Perfect, then we are ready.
- FrancescoAndiamo subito!Let's go right away!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ciuccio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciuccio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
