cigno
/ˈt͡ʃiɲ.ɲo/masculine
The Italian word for swan is cigno.
cigno refers to the waterfowl of the genus Cygnus.
Meaning: waterfowl of the genus Cygnus (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃiɲ.ɲo/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While 'cigno' is the bird, an Italian person might use the expression 'un cigno nero' to describe a 'black swan' event, a term used in economics for an unpredictable occurrence.
- The sound of the gn in cigno is a palatal nasal, a sound that does not exist in standard English and is shared with the Spanish ñ.
- The expression canto del cigno refers to the 'swan song', meaning a final performance or activity before death or retirement.
Examples in context
- Questo cigno è nero.This swan is black.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a cigno.Tatoeba #7675434 by Guybrush88, translation #2158242 by Hybrid
- C'è un cigno nell'acqua lì.There is a swan in the water there.This sentence is useful for stating the location of a cigno.Tatoeba #1142730 by rado, translation #1142560 by Arraroak
- Se fossi un usignolo, farei la parte dell'usignolo, se fossi un cigno, la parte del cigno. Tuttavia, poiché sono un essere ragionevole, è mio dovere lodare Dio e vi invito a unirvi allo stesso canto.Were I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale, were I a swan, the part of a swan. However, since I am a reasoning being, it is my duty to praise God, and I call on you to join in the same song.This sentence demonstrates the use of cigno in a metaphorical or literary context.Tatoeba #12214114 by carlosalberto, translation #12213904 by Objectivesea
- Il cigno è un animale elegante.The swan is an elegant animal.
- Ho visto dei cigni nel laghetto del parco.I saw some swans in the park's pond.
- Oggi ho visto un cigno reale nel fiume.Today I saw a royal swan in the river.
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a park near a lake.
- GiuliaGuarda quel bellissimo cigno!Look at that beautiful swan!
- AlessandroSì, è davvero elegante.Yes, it is truly elegant.
- GiuliaIl cigno sta nuotando verso di noi.The swan is swimming towards us.
- AlessandroNon muoverti, così non si spaventa.Don't move, so it doesn't get scared.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swan” translations and entries cigno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
