brutto topo
/ˈbrut.to ˈtɔ.po/word by word
The English phrase "ugly rat" is translated into Italian as brutto topo.
This phrase is used to describe a rodent that is not pleasant to look at.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbrut.to ˈtɔ.po/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Calling someone a topo in Italian can be a way of calling them 'sneaky' or 'cunning' rather than just referring to the animal.
- In Italian, the word brutto comes from the Latin brūtus, which originally meant 'heavy' or 'dull' rather than just 'unpleasant to look at'.
- In Italian, topo is used for both 'mouse' and 'rat', unlike English which distinguishes between the two species.
Examples in context
- Il tuo ratto è davvero brutto!Your rat is really ugly!
- Quello è un brutto topo grigio.That is an ugly grey rat.
- Non toccare quel brutto topo!Don't touch that ugly rat!
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are walking in a park.
- SofiaLorenzo, guarda quel brutto topo!Lorenzo, look at that ugly rat!
- LorenzoDove? Non lo vedo.Where? I don't see it.
- SofiaÈ proprio lì, vicino al bidone.It's right there, near the bin.
- LorenzoHai ragione, è davvero brutto.You're right, it really is ugly.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (brutto, topo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brutto, topo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
