tatuaggio
/ta.tuˈad.d͡ʒo/masculine
The English word 'tattoo' is translated into Italian as tatuaggio.
The word tatuaggio is a masculine noun referring to an image made in the skin with ink and a needle. If you want to say you are 'getting a tattoo', the common Italian expression is farsi un tatuaggio.
Meaning: an image made in the skin with ink and a needle (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tatuaggio is tatuaggi. If you are using the related verb tatuare (to tattoo) as an adjective to describe a feminine noun, you would use the form tatuata (tattooed).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /ta.tuˈad.dʒo/.
Did you know?
- When Italians talk about 'removing' a tatuaggio, they use the verb rimuovere, but for a 'cover-up', they often use the English term 'cover-up' because there is no single Italian word for this specific process.
- In Italian, the verb tatuare can be used metaphorically to describe a memory or a feeling that is 'inked' into the heart or soul, meaning it can never be forgotten.
- While the English word 'tattoo' sounds like it might be related to 'tatuaggio', the Italian word actually entered the language through French. It was borrowed from the French word tatouage.
Examples in context
- Io ho un tatuaggio.I have a tattoo.This sentence shows how to state that you have a tattoo using tatuaggio.Tatoeba #6571717 by Guybrush88, translation #3363733 by CK
- Tu hai un tatuaggio?Do you have a tattoo?This sentence is a way to ask someone if they have a tattoo using tatuaggio.Tatoeba #3062101 by Guybrush88, translation #953190 by CK
- Non ho un tatuaggio.I don't have a tattoo.This sentence is used to say that you do not have a tattoo using tatuaggio.Tatoeba #3237352 by Guybrush88, translation #2276026 by CK
- Ho deciso di farmi un tatuaggio sulla schiena.I decided to get a tattoo on my back.
- Il tatuatore ha un grande talento nell'arte del tatuaggio.The tattoo artist has great talent in the art of tattooing.
- 85 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are looking at a photo of a friend.
- GiuliaGuarda il tatuaggio di Marco.Look at Marco's tattoo.
- AlessandroÈ un tatuaggio davvero incredibile!It is a truly incredible tattoo!
- GiuliaVuoi farne uno simile?Do you want to get one similar?
- AlessandroForse un giorno, Giulia.Maybe one day, Giulia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tattoo” translations and entries tatuaggio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tatuaggio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
