cimice
/ˈt͡ʃi.mi.t͡ʃe/
The English word "stinkbug" is cimice in Italian.
The term refers to a bug belonging to the superfamily Coreoidea.
Meaning: bug of the superfamily Coreoidea (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cimice is cimici.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. It is pronounced /ˈtʃi.mi.tʃe/.
Did you know?
- The word cimice is often used in Italian espionage contexts to refer to a hidden microphone or 'bug'.
- Unlike English, which has distinct names for 'stinkbug' and 'bedbug', Italian uses cimice for both, specifying the latter as cimice dei letti.
- The word cimice shares a root with the Latin word 'cīmicem', which was used by ancient Romans to describe various biting or stinging insects.
Examples in context
- Ho trovato una cimice puzzolente nel giardino.I found a stinkbug in the garden.
- Guarda, c'è una cimice maleodorante sul pavimento!Look, there's a smelly bug on the floor!
- C'è una cimice sul muro.There is a stinkbug on the wall.
- Ho visto una cimice in giardino.I saw a stinkbug in the garden.
- Attento, quella cimice è grossa.Watch out, that stinkbug is big.
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are cleaning the living room.
- MartinaAlessandro, c'è una cimice vicino alla finestra.Alessandro, there is a stinkbug near the window.
- AlessandroDove? Non la vedo.Where? I don't see it.
- MartinaÈ proprio lì, sul vetro.It's right there, on the glass.
- AlessandroAh, l'ho vista. La prendo.Ah, I saw it. I'll get it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cimice, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cimice, CC BY-SA 4.0.
