milza
/ˈmil.t͡sa/feminine
The English word spleen is milza in Italian. Wiktionary also lists splene.
Meaning: organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| milza | /ˈmil.t͡sa/ | feminine |
| splene | masculine |
The term refers to the biological organ.
How does it change in a sentence?
milza is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈmil.tsa/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian culinary traditions, specifically in Sicily, milza is a key ingredient in the traditional street food 'pani ca meusa'.
- The word milza was borrowed into Italian from Lombardic, a language spoken by Germanic tribes who settled in Italy.
- While 'spleen' in English often implies bad temper, an Italian speaker would rarely use milza to describe a person's mood.
Examples in context
- Costui sta pianificando qualcosa. Lo sento nella mia milza.This fellow is up to something. I can feel it in my spleen.Tatoeba #3131539 by Guybrush88, translation #1812153 by marcelostockle
- Il medico ha riscontrato un problema alla milza durante l'esame.The doctor found an issue with the spleen during the exam.
- La milza è un organo importante.The spleen is an important organ.
- Il medico ha controllato la milza.The doctor checked the spleen.
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are studying anatomy together.
- MatteoDov'è posizionata la milza?Where is the spleen located?
- GiuliaSi trova a sinistra dello stomaco.It is located to the left of the stomach.
- MatteoÈ un organo molto piccolo?Is it a very small organ?
- GiuliaSì, ma la milza ha funzioni importanti.Yes, but the spleen has important functions.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spleen” translations and entries milza, splene, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries milza, splene, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
