Italian · People & Family
"Boy" in Italian: ragazzo
il ragazzo
Note: small boy: il bambino
Boy in Italian is il ragazzo (eel rah-GAHT-tsoh). It covers boys and young men; a small boy is often il bambino. Il mio ragazzo also means my boyfriend—context decides.
School gate
Quel ragazzo aspetta l'autobus.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ragazzo
Say it
eel rah-GAHT-tsoh
/il raˈɡat.tso/
Ragazzo stresses GAHT: rah-GAHT-tsoh. Double z is held.
"Boy" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il ragazzo | the boy; the young man Default. | Default. |
| i ragazzi | the boys; the guys Plural / mixed friends. | Plural / mixed friends. |
| ragazzo di… anni | boy of … years Age. | Age. |
| il mio ragazzo | my boyfriend Relationship sense. | Relationship sense. |
How to use ragazzo in real life
- 1School gate
Quel ragazzo aspetta l'autobus.
That boy is waiting for the bus.
Quel ragazzo.
- 2Sports chat
I ragazzi giocano a calcio laggiù.
The boys are playing soccer over there.
I ragazzi.
- 3Introducing a teen cousin
Questo ragazzo è mio cugino.
This boy is my cousin.
Questo ragazzo.
Mistakes English speakers make with ragazzo
Incorrect: La ragazzo corre.
Correct: Il ragazzo corre.
Ragazzo is masculine.
Incorrect: Il boy ha dieci anni.
Correct: Il ragazzo ha dieci anni. / Il bambino…
Use ragazzo or bambino.
Good to know
Ragazzi! can address a mixed group of friends of any gender. Calling an adult stranger ragazzo can feel odd; prefer signore. For little kids, bambino is safer than ragazzo.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Watching a youth soccer match
ChatPal
Quel ragazzo in porta è forte.
That boy in goal is strong.
You
Sì, il ragazzo para quasi tutto.
Yes, the boy saves almost everything.
ChatPal
I ragazzi dell'altra squadra corrono tanto.
The boys on the other team run a lot.
You
Vero. Quel ragazzo numero sette è velocissimo.
True. That boy number seven is really fast.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Boy" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Boy" in Italian
Ragazzo vs bambino?
Bambino is a young child; ragazzo is older boy/teen/young man.
Does ragazzo mean boyfriend?
Il mio ragazzo can; alone it often just means boy/guy.
Plural for a mixed group?
I ragazzi is common.
Girl counterpart?
La ragazza.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
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- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
