toccare
/tokˈka.re/
The English verb touch is translated into Italian as toccare.
toccare means to make physical contact with something. To describe touching someone gently, you can use the phrases toccare con delicatezza or sfiorare dolcemente.
Meaning: make physical contact with (verb)
Which one should you use?
While tocco refers to a single touch or a stroke, tatto refers to the sense of touch itself.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
toccare is a regular second-conjugation verb ending in -are. Other forms include Lui/lei tocca (he/she touches) and Noi tocchiamo (we touch).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables with the stress on the second syllable: /tokˈka.re/.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word toccare can also be used figuratively to mean 'to be someone's turn', such as in the phrase tocca a te which means 'it is your turn'.
- The word toccare is used in the expression toccare il cielo con un dito, which literally means to touch the sky with a finger and describes being extremely happy.
- The Italian word toccare comes from the Vulgar Latin tuccāre, which likely has Germanic or onomatopoeic origins.
Examples in context
- Non lo devi toccare.You mustn't touch it.Tatoeba #7999229 by Guybrush88, translation #42900 by CM
- Non lo toccare, Tom.Don't touch that, Tom.Tatoeba #11090666 by Guybrush88, translation #10177435 by espamatics
- Non toccare nulla qui.Don't touch anything here.Tatoeba #5556269 by Guybrush88, translation #2250435 by CK
- Mi scuso, potrei toccare il quadro?Excuse me, may I touch the painting?
- Il dottore mi ha palpato l'addomeThe doctor palpated my abdomen
- Hai visto? Ho toccato il gatto!Did you see? I touched the cat!
- Palpa questa stoffa, è morbidissima!Feel this fabric, it's very soft!
- Mi hai sfiorato con l'auto!You lightly touched me with the car!
- Mi ha toccato con delicatezza sulla spallaThey touched me gently on the shoulder
- 114 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are at an art museum.
- GiuliaNon puoi toccare la statua.You cannot touch the statue.
- MatteoScusa, volevo solo toccare il marmo.Sorry, I just wanted to touch the marble.
- GiuliaÈ vietato toccare le opere d'arte.It is forbidden to touch the works of art.
- MatteoHai ragione, scusa ancora.You are right, sorry again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “touch” translations and entries toccare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries toccare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
