croce
/ˈkro.t͡ʃe/feminine
In Italian, 'tails' can be translated as croce when referring to the side of a coin or code when referring to the body parts of animals.
Meaning: side of coin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| croce | /ˈkro.t͡ʃe/ | feminine |
| code | /ˈko.de/ |
Use croce specifically when referring to the 'tails' side of a coin flip. Use code when referring to the plural of an animal's tail.
Which one should you use?
When flipping a coin, Italians use croce (cross) to denote the 'tails' side, which is the reverse side of the coin. This is contrasted with testa (head), which refers to the side with the portrait. To ask for 'heads or tails' during a coin toss, the phrase used is croce o testa. In contrast, code is the plural form used for the anatomical tails of animals.
How does it change in a sentence?
croce is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkro.tʃe/
Did you know?
- In Italian, code is the plural form for animal tails, but the singular form coda is also used to describe a 'line' or 'queue' of people.
- The phrase croce o testa follows a logic of 'symbol versus portrait', rather than 'head versus tail' as used in English.
- The word croce refers to the 'tails' side because many historical European coins featured a cross on the reverse.
Examples in context
- Alcuni gatti non hanno le code.Some cats don't have tails.This sentence shows the use of code for animal tails.Tatoeba #13084117 by Guybrush88, translation #12210139 by Miktsoanit
- Le code sono assenti in alcuni gatti.Tails are absent in some cats.This sentence demonstrates the use of code for animal tails.Tatoeba #13084719 by Guybrush88, translation #268819 by adjusting
- Le code sono assenti in questo tipo di gatto.Tails are absent in this type of cat.Tatoeba #12820523 by Guybrush88, translation #58598 by shekitten
- Il cane ha un codinoThe dog has a small tail
- Il gatto ha una codina lungaThe cat has a long tail
- la sua coda è foltaIts tail is bushy
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Sofia are playing a game with a coin.
- AlessandroViene croce o testa?Is it tails or heads?
- SofiaSpero che esca croce.I hope it comes up tails.
- AlessandroHai visto? È uscita croce!Did you see? It came up tails!
- SofiaChe fortuna, Alessandro!How lucky, Alessandro!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tails” translations and entries croce, code, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
