trucco
/ˈtruk.ko/
The English phrase 'trick' can be translated into Italian as trucco.
trucco is used to mean a trick intended to fool someone or cause them to believe something untrue. It can also refer to an effective, clever or quick way of doing something. Additionally, in a general sense, trucco can mean makeup or cosmetics.
Meaning: to fool, to cause to believe something untrue (verb)
Which one should you use?
While trucco is a common way to say trick, inbroglio refers specifically to something designed to fool. For magic tricks or illusions, the specific term used is gioco di prestigio.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈtruk.ko/.
Did you know?
- The word trucco is a deverbal form of truccare, a verb that can mean both 'to rig' an election and 'to put on makeup'.
- In Italian, the word trucco refers to both a deceptive trick and cosmetics. Because of this, applying 'makeup' is conceptually the same as 'tricking' the appearance of the face.
- The word trucco shares a common ancestor with the French word truc, which is often used as a slang term for 'thing' or 'stuff'.
Examples in context
- Non è un trucco.It's not a trick.This sentence is useful for clarifying that something is not a trick.Tatoeba #3010662 by Guybrush88, translation #2648786 by CK
- Quello è il trucco.That's the trick.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific trick.Tatoeba #4709999 by Guybrush88, translation #2251284 by CK
- L'amore è un trucco.Love is a trick.This sentence is useful for using the word in a metaphorical way.Tatoeba #818294 by Guybrush88, translation #818293 by Zifre
- È solo un trucco per farti credere il contrarioIt's just a trick to make you believe otherwise.
- Il mago ha stupito tutti con i suoi giochi di prestigioThe magician amazed everyone with his magic tricks.
- Mi hanno fatto una bella burla!They played a great trick on me!
- Mi hanno fatto uno scherzo incredibile!They played an incredible trick on me!
- Ho scoperto il suo inganno troppo tardiI discovered his trick too late.
- È solo un trucco per ottenere ciò che vuoleIt's just a trick to get what he wants.
- Il mago ha impressionato tutti con il suo gioco di prestigioThe magician impressed everyone with his magic trick.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara is showing Lorenzo a magic trick.
- ChiaraGuarda bene, questo è un trucco!Look closely, this is a trick!
- LorenzoCome hai fatto? Mi hai ingannato!How did you do it? You fooled me!
- ChiaraIl trucco è molto semplice in realtà.The trick is actually very simple.
- LorenzoOra voglio imparare questo trucco.Now I want to learn this trick.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry trucco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries trucco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
