cilindro
/t͡ʃiˈlin.dro/masculine
The English phrase "top hat" is translated into Italian as cilindro.
cilindro is the standard term used to refer to a top hat. Note that in a mathematical context, this word is also used to mean "cylinder".
Meaning: cylindrical hat (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is cilindro, and the plural form is cilindri.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /tʃiˈlin.dro/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Italian opera and Commedia dell'arte, the presence of a cilindro often signals a character who is a pretentious bourgeois or a fake aristocrat.
- The word cilindro is also used in Italian mechanical engineering to describe the 'cylinder' of an engine. This means a mechanic and a milliner use the same word for completely different objects.
- Because cilindro is derived from the Greek kúlindros, it is a cognate of the English word 'cylinder'. They share the same linguistic roots and structural meaning.
Examples in context
- Indossava un cilindro e un monocolo.He wore a top hat and a monocle.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use cilindro in a description of clothing.Tatoeba #11951702 by Guybrush88, translation #1894197 by Spamster
- Ho trovato un bellissimo cappello a cilindro in un negozio di antiquariatoI found a beautiful top hat in an antique shop
- Il mago ha un cilindro nero.The magician has a black top hat.
- Dove hai messo il mio cilindro?Where did you put my top hat?
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are preparing for a themed costume party.
- SofiaAlessandro, ti serve il mio cilindro per il costume?Alessandro, do you need my top hat for the costume?
- AlessandroSì, grazie, il mio è troppo piccolo.Yes, thanks, mine is too small.
- SofiaIl cilindro è proprio lì sul tavolo.The top hat is right there on the table.
- AlessandroPerfetto, ora sembro un vero gentiluomo!Perfect, now I look like a real gentleman!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “top hat” translations and entries cilindro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cilindro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
