Italian · Time, Numbers & Colors

"Brown" in Italian: marrone

marrone

Say it: mahr-ROH-nehadjective/marˈro.ne/

Brown in Italian is marrone (mahr-ROH-neh). It often stays marrone after nouns; plural may be marroni for some agreement patterns.

Describing hair

Ha i capelli marrone scuro.
She has dark brown hair.
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How to pronounce marrone

Say it

mahr-ROH-neh

/marˈro.ne/

Marrone stresses ROH: mahr-ROH-neh. Soft double r. Plural marroni is mahr-ROH-nee.

"Brown" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
marronebrown

Color default.

capelli marronibrown hair

Description.

scarpe marronibrown shoes

Clothes.

marrone scurodark brown

Shade.

How to use marrone in real life

  1. 1Describing hair

    Ha i capelli marrone scuro.

    She has dark brown hair.

    Marrone scuro.

  2. 2Shoe shop

    Cerco scarpe marroni eleganti.

    I'm looking for elegant brown shoes.

    Marroni.

  3. 3Furniture

    Il tavolo è marrone chiaro.

    The table is light brown.

    È marrone.

Mistakes English speakers make with marrone

Incorrect: Una maglia marrona.

Correct: Una maglia marrone.

Marrone usually keeps -e; don't invent marrona.

Incorrect: Voglio brown boots.

Correct: Voglio stivali marroni.

Use marrone/marroni, not English brown.

Good to know

Italians describe hair and leather goods with marrone more than chocolate metaphors. Marrone is also a chestnut—market stalls sell caldarroste in season.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Matching a belt to shoes

  1. ChatPal

    Le scarpe sono marroni: quale cintura?

    The shoes are brown: which belt?

  2. You

    Prendo la cintura marrone scuro.

    I'll take the dark brown belt.

  3. ChatPal

    Sì, il marrone combina bene.

    Yes, the brown matches well.

  4. You

    Perfetto, passo in cassa.

    Perfect, I'll go to the till.

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"Brown" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Brown" in Italian

Feminine form?

Usually still marrone.

Brown hair?

Capelli marroni / marrone.

Dark brown?

Marrone scuro.

Chestnut fruit?

Also la marrone / il marrone in food talk.

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