Italian · Body & Health
"Cheek" in Italian: guancia
la guancia
Cheek in Italian is la guancia (lah GWAHN-chah), feminine: una guancia, due guance. The greeting bacio sulla guancia is the cheek kiss.
Cold morning
Ho le guance gelate dal vento.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce guancia
Say it
lah GWAHN-chah
/ˈɡwan.tʃa/
Guancia stresses GWAHN: GWAHN-chah. Plural guance is GWAHN-cheh.
"Cheek" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la guancia | the cheek Face part. | Face part. |
| le guance | the cheeks Both sides. | Both sides. |
| bacio sulla guancia | kiss on the cheek Greeting description. | Greeting description. |
| guance rosse | red cheeks Cold weather or blushing. | Cold weather or blushing. |
How to use guancia in real life
- 1Cold morning
Ho le guance gelate dal vento.
My cheeks are frozen from the wind.
Le guance for both.
- 2Makeup tip
Metti un po' di blush sulla guancia.
Put a bit of blush on the cheek.
Sulla guancia for location.
- 3Greeting friends
In Italia spesso ci si bacia sulla guancia.
In Italy people often kiss on the cheek.
Common social phrase.
Mistakes English speakers make with guancia
Incorrect: Il guancia mi fa male.
Correct: La guancia mi fa male.
Guancia is feminine: la guancia.
Incorrect: Ho due guancia rosse.
Correct: Ho due guance rosse.
Plural is guance.
Good to know
Cheek kisses (baci sulla guancia) vary by city: two is common in much of Italy, sometimes three. Watch locals and follow their lead rather than forcing a hug.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Someone looks chilled after a walk
ChatPal
Hai le guance tutte rosse!
Your cheeks are all red!
You
Sì, il vento mi ha preso sulla guancia sinistra.
Yes, the wind hit my left cheek.
ChatPal
Entra, ti scaldi un attimo.
Come in, warm up a second.
You
Grazie. Mi massaggio un po' la guancia.
Thanks. I'll rub my cheek a bit.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cheek" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cheek" in Italian
What is the plural of guancia?
Le guance.
How do I say kiss on the cheek?
Un bacio sulla guancia, or baci sulla guancia for the greeting.
Is guancia only the face cheek?
Yes for the face. Buttock is another word (chiappa/gluteo), not guancia.
How many cheek kisses in Italy?
Often two; some areas use three. Mirror the other person.
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
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- 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.
