Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| lanciare | /lanˈt͡ʃa.re/ |
| tirare un pallonetto |
The primary verb for tossing is lanciare. In specific contexts, such as sports, you might use the phrase tirare un pallonetto to describe a lob or a high-trajectory throw. Related nouns include lancio, which refers to the act of the toss itself and tiro, which often describes a shot or the specific trajectory of a throw in a sporting context. If you are talking about a coin toss used to make a decision, the phrase testa o croce (heads or tails) is used to describe the method. Additionally, the idiomatic expression tirare a indovinare is used to mean 'to have a wild guess'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /lanˈtʃa.re/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
When do people say it?
When making a decision through a coin toss, Italians often refer to the act as testa o croce, literally 'heads or tails'.
Did you know?
- While testa o croce means 'heads or tails', the word croce means 'cross'. This refers to the religious imagery found on ancient coins rather than a generic 'tail'.
- The English word 'launch' and the Italian verb lanciare share the same historical DNA. Both originate from the Latin word for a 'lance' or 'spear', reflecting the powerful, piercing motion of throwing a weapon.
- While 'toss' is often a light movement, the Italian verb lanciare can also describe the act of launching a rocket or a massive projectile. It carries a sense of weight and momentum that 'toss' lacks in English.
Examples in context
- Si prega di gettare la carta nel cestino.Please toss the paper in the trash can.
- L'arbitro getta la moneta per decidere chi inizia la partita.The referee tosses the coin to decide who starts the game.
- Si prega di lanciare la palla oltre il muro.Please toss the ball over the wall.
- Butta quella vecchia giacca nel cestino.Toss that old jacket in the bin.
- Lanciare la moneta per decidere chi inizia.Toss the coin to decide who goes first.
- Puoi lanciare le chiavi verso di me?Can you toss the keys toward me?
- Il giocatore deve lanciare la pallina in alto.The player must toss the ball high up.
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are playing with a ball in the park.
- FrancescoChiara, puoi lanciare la palla in alto?Chiara, can you toss the ball up?
- ChiaraCerto, guarda dove va!Sure, look where it goes!
- FrancescoLanciare così è molto divertente.Tossing it like that is very fun.
- ChiaraOra tocca a te lanciare!Now it is your turn to toss!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toss” translations and entries lanciare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lanciare, tirare, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
