specie
/ˈspɛ.t͡ʃe/feminine
The English word 'species' is translated into Italian as specie.
The term refers to a group of plants or animals that share similar characteristics. Note that specie is a false friend. While it means 'species' in a biological context, it can also refer to 'coins' or 'cash' in different Italian expressions, such as specie da circolazione.
Meaning: group of plants or animals having similar appearance (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun specie is invariable, which means its form remains the same in both singular and plural contexts. The singular form is la specie.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈspɛ.tʃe/.
Did you know?
- The word specie is a doublet of spezie, which means 'spices'. Both words share a common ancestor in Latin, but they evolved to describe completely different things in Italian.
- In Italian, specie can be used as a vague filler word meaning 'kind of' or 'sort of'. For example, saying una specie di before a noun indicates that something is not exactly what it is being compared to.
- The phrase in specie is used in legal or financial contexts to mean 'in kind' rather than in money. It describes the delivery of actual goods or assets instead of their monetary value.
Examples in context
- Sa che specie è questa?Do you know what species this is?This sentence is useful for asking about the identity of a particular specie.Tatoeba #11010849 by Guybrush88, translation #10915626 by CM
- Ci sono 340 specie di colibrì.There are 340 species of hummingbirds.This sentence is useful for expressing the number of different specie within a group.Tatoeba #2380692 by Guybrush88, translation #35100 by CK
- Quella è una specie migratoria.That one is a migratory species.This sentence is useful for describing the migratory nature of a specie.Tatoeba #1588477 by Guybrush88, translation #462532 by lukaszpp
- La biodiversità è fondamentale per la conservazione delle diverse specie.Biodiversity is crucial for the conservation of various species.
- Mi interesso delle varie tipologie di specie animali.I'm interested in various types of animal species.
- Ho visto una specie di uccello che non avevo mai incontrato prima.I saw a kind of bird I had never encountered before.
- Le specie marine sono a rischio di estinzione.Marine species are at risk of extinction.
- La specie di albero che vedi qui è tipica della regione.The species of tree you see here is typical of the region.
- Ho visto una specie di insetto sconosciuto nel mio giardino.I saw a kind of unknown insect in my garden.
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a nature documentary on TV.
- LorenzoQuesta specie di rana è molto rara.This species of frog is very rare.
- MartinaSì, è davvero incredibile.Yes, it is truly incredible.
- LorenzoLa sua specie vive solo in questa foresta.Its species lives only in this forest.
- MartinaChe fortuna poterla vedere in TV!How lucky to be able to see it on TV!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “species” translations and entries specie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries specie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
