monello
/moˈnɛl.lo/masculine
The English phrase 'street urchin' can be translated into Italian using monello. Wiktionary also lists ragazzo di strada and ladruncolo.
Meaning: child living or spending most of their time in the streets (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| monello | /moˈnɛl.lo/ | masculine |
| ragazzo di strada | /raˈɡat.t͡so di ˈstra.da/ (word by word) | masculine |
| ladruncolo | /laˈdrun.ko.lo/ | masculine |
| borsaiolo | /bor.saˈjɔ.lo/ | masculine |
All the terms provided refer to a child who lives or spends most of their time in the streets.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ragazzo di strada is a literal translation of 'street boy' and describes a child who lives or spends time on the streets.
Which one should you use?
While a street urchin might be a thief, borsaiolo refers specifically to a pickpocket.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural form of monello is monelli.
How do you pronounce it?
The word monello has three syllables with the stress on the second syllable: /moˈnɛl.lo/.
Did you know?
- While monello translates to 'street urchin', in modern Italian it is often used affectionately to describe a 'mischievous' child regardless of where they live.
- The term ragazzo may have its roots in the Arabic word raqqāṣ, which referred to a 'courier' or 'delivery boy'.
- The word monello might be a playful combination of the name 'Simone' and an old word for 'monkey', suggesting a child who is more mischievous than truly criminal.
Examples in context
- Mi dispiace per il ragazzino di strada, spero che trovi l'aiuto di cui ha bisogno.I feel sorry for the street urchin, I hope they find the help they need.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are walking through a busy city square.
- AlessandroGuarda quel monello laggiù!Look at that street urchin over there!
- ChiaraSembra molto giovane e solo.He seems very young and alone.
- AlessandroHa appena preso il portafoglio a quel turista.He just took that tourist's wallet.
- ChiaraDobbiamo avvisare subito qualcuno.We must notify someone immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “street urchin” translations and entries monello, ragazzo di strada, ladruncolo, borsaiolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ragazzo, di, strada) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries borsaiolo, di, ladruncolo, monello, ragazzo, strada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
