spazzino
/spatˈt͡si.no/masculine
The English word "sweeper" is spazzino in Italian.
The term refers to someone who sweeps floors or chimneys. In modern urban settings, spazzino most commonly refers to a street sweeper or a municipal sanitation worker.
Meaning: one who sweeps floors or chimneys (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the verb spazzare, which means "to sweep".
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular is spazzino. If you are referring to a female sweeper, use the feminine form spazzina. For a group of male sweepers or a mixed group, use the masculine plural spazzini.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA is /spatˈtsi.no/.
Did you know?
- In the world of Italian football, if a defender is called a spazzino, it is not a compliment. It describes a player who simply kicks the ball away from the goal with force rather than using skill or finesse.
- While spazzino is the common word, you will see operatore ecologico on official city uniforms. This term translates to 'ecological operator' and is used to give the profession a more professional and modern image.
- The suffix -ino in spazzino is a diminutive, which historically suggested the smaller tools used or the humble status of the profession.
Examples in context
- Maria è una spazzatrice molto diligente.Maria is a very diligent sweeper.
- Giorgio è un bravo spazzino.Giorgio is a good sweeper.
- Marco lavora come spazzino.Marco works as a sweeper.
- Laura è diventata una spazzina.Laura has become a sweeper.
- Matteo lavora come spazzino.Matteo works as a sweeper.
- Sara è diventata una spazzina.Sara has become a sweeper.
- Sono andato a parlare con lo spazzino.I went to talk with the sweeper.
- Ho incontrato una spazzatrice simpatica.I met a friendly sweeper.
- Luca è un ottimo spazzino delle strade.Luca is an excellent street sweeper.
- Il signor Rossi è uno spazzino molto gentile.Mr. Rossi is a very kind sweeper.
- Ho visto lo spazzino pulire la strada sotto casa.I saw the sweeper cleaning the street below my house.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are walking in a clean city park.
- LorenzoGuarda, è passato lo spazzino.Look, the sweeper has passed by.
- SofiaSì, ora la piazza è bellissima.Yes, now the square is beautiful.
- LorenzoLo spazzino fa un ottimo lavoro.The sweeper does an excellent job.
- SofiaÈ vero, è molto efficiente.It's true, he is very efficient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweeper” translations and entries spazzino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
