Italian · Body & Health
"Ear" in Italian: orecchio
l'orecchio
Ear in Italian is l'orecchio (oh-REHK-kyoh), a masculine singular noun. Plural is usually le orecchie, which is feminine. Earache is mal d'orecchie. Prestare orecchio means to listen carefully.
Doctor visit
Mi fa male l'orecchio destro.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce orecchio
Say it
oh-REHK-kyoh
/oˈrek.kjo/
Orecchio stresses REHK: oh-REHK-kyoh. Double c before h is hard. The article is l'.
"Ear" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'orecchio | the ear Singular masculine form. | Singular masculine form. |
| le orecchie | the ears Common plural; feminine. | Common plural; feminine. |
| mal d'orecchie | earache Pain complaint. | Pain complaint. |
| orecchini | earrings Jewellery from the same root. | Jewellery from the same root. |
How to use orecchio in real life
- 1Doctor visit
Mi fa male l'orecchio destro.
My right ear hurts.
L'orecchio for one ear.
- 2Loud concert
Ho le orecchie che fischiano.
My ears are ringing.
Plural le orecchie.
- 3Asking attention
Dammi retta, apri un orecchio.
Listen to me, open an ear.
Figurative listening.
Mistakes English speakers make with orecchio
Incorrect: La orecchio è rosso.
Correct: L'orecchio è rosso.
Singular orecchio is masculine with l'.
Incorrect: Mi fanno male i orecchi.
Correct: Mi fanno male le orecchie.
Everyday plural is le orecchie.
Good to know
The gender switch from l'orecchio to le orecchie surprises learners. Native speakers rarely think about it; they just use the plural they heard growing up. For jewellery, orecchini is the everyday word.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After a loud football match
ChatPal
Ti fischia l'orecchio?
Is your ear ringing?
You
Sì. L'orecchio sinistro soprattutto.
Yes. The left ear especially.
ChatPal
Mettiamo riposo alle orecchie stasera.
Let's give the ears a rest tonight.
You
D'accordo. Niente cuffie sull'orecchio.
Agreed. No headphones on the ear.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Ear" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Ear" in Italian
Is orecchio masculine?
Singular yes: l'orecchio. Plural is usually le orecchie (feminine).
How do I say earache?
Mal d'orecchie or mi fa male l'orecchio.
What are orecchini?
Earrings.
How do I pronounce orecchio?
oh-REHK-kyoh, stress on REHK.
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
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