picchio
/ˈpik.kjo/masculine
The Italian word for woodpecker is picchio.
picchio refers to a bird in the Picidae family.
Meaning: bird in Picidae (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈpik.kjo/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the verb picchiare can be used colloquially to describe a very hot sun, as in il sole picchia.
- Italian speakers use the word picchiata to describe a steep dive, such as a plane descending rapidly, deriving from the same root as picchio.
- While English uses 'woodpecker' to describe the substance the bird hits, Italian uses a word that focuses entirely on the verb 'to strike'.
Examples in context
- È un picchio.It's a woodpecker.Tatoeba #10451596 by Guybrush88, translation #10239374 by ddnktr
- Ho visto un picchio nel bosco.I saw a woodpecker in the forest.
- Il picchio sta battendo sul tronco.The woodpecker is pecking on the trunk.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking through a park in the morning.
- AlessandroAscolta, senti quel rumore?Listen, do you hear that noise?
- GiuliaSì, deve essere un picchio.Yes, it must be a woodpecker.
- AlessandroGuarda lassù, su quel ramo!Look up there, on that branch!
- GiuliaChe bel picchio, Alessandro!What a beautiful woodpecker, Alessandro!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woodpecker” translations and entries picchio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
