unicorno
/u.niˈkɔr.no/masculine
The English word unicorn is translated into Italian as unicorno. Wiktionary also lists liocorno.
Meaning: mythical horselike creature (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| unicorno | /u.niˈkɔr.no/ | masculine |
| liocorno | /li.oˈkɔr.no/ | masculine |
The word refers to a mythical horselike creature.
What does it mean word for word?
The word unicorno is a compound consisting of the Latin-derived prefix uni- (meaning one) and corno (meaning horn).
Which one should you use?
unicorno is the standard modern word, while liocorno is an archaic or literary term used in classical texts and poetry.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of unicorno is unicorni.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. Its IPA transcription is /u.niˈkɔr.no/.
Did you know?
- The word unicorno is used in modern Italian business contexts to describe a startup valued at over one billion dollars.
- The literary word liocorno is actually a blend of lione meaning 'lion' and unicorno. This reflects an older tradition where the creature was depicted as a mixture of a lion and a horse.
- Italian folklore once associated the unicorno with purity and the ability to purify poisoned water by dipping its horn into a stream.
Examples in context
- Ha già catturato quell'Unicorno?Have you caught that Unicorn yet?Tatoeba #1714337 by Guybrush88, translation #1714244 by gleki
- L'unicorno è un mostro favoloso.The unicorn is a fabulous monster.Tatoeba #3325997 by Guybrush88, translation #540060 by Manfredo
- Tom è un unicorno davvero carino, vero?Tom is a really cute unicorn, isn't he?Tatoeba #13529381 by Guybrush88, translation #13526827 by rul
- I bambini leggevano una storia meravigliosa su un unicorno.The children were reading a marvelous story about a unicorn.
- Hai visto quel peluche? È un unicornetto molto carino!Have you seen that plush toy? It's a very cute little unicorn!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are looking at a children's storybook.
- ChiaraGuarda, c'è un unicorno in questa pagina.Look, there is a unicorn on this page.
- FrancescoÈ un unicorno molto colorato.It is a very colorful unicorn.
- ChiaraFrancesco, disegni anche tu un unicorno?Francesco, are you drawing a unicorn too?
- FrancescoNo, io disegno un drago.No, I am drawing a dragon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unicorn” translations and entries unicorno, liocorno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries liocorno, unicorno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
