Italian · Body & Health
"Eye" in Italian: occhio
l'occhio
Note: plural: gli occhi
Eye in Italian is l'occhio (OHK-kyoh), a masculine noun. The plural is gli occhi, with a spelling change. Dark eyes are occhi scuri; to keep an eye on something is tenere d'occhio.
Describing someone
Ha gli occhi verdi molto chiari.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce occhio
Say it
OHK-kyoh
/ˈɔk.kjo/
Occhio is OHK-kyoh with a tough ky glide. Plural occhi is OHK-kee. The double c is held.
"Eye" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'occhio | eye Singular masculine with elided article. | Singular masculine with elided article. |
| gli occhi | eyes Plural form used constantly. | Plural form used constantly. |
| occhiali | glasses Related word for spectacles. | Related word for spectacles. |
| colpo d'occhio | glance; at a glance Figurative set phrase. | Figurative set phrase. |
How to use occhio in real life
- 1Describing someone
Ha gli occhi verdi molto chiari.
He/She has very light green eyes.
Gli occhi is the plural you need for colour.
- 2Something in your eye
Ho qualcosa nell'occhio sinistro.
I have something in my left eye.
Nell'occhio uses the singular.
- 3Asking for help
Mi tieni d'occhio la borsa un attimo?
Can you keep an eye on my bag a second?
Tenere d'occhio is the watch-over phrase.
Mistakes English speakers make with occhio
Incorrect: Le occhie blu.
Correct: Gli occhi blu.
Plural is gli occhi, not le occhie.
Incorrect: Il occhio destro.
Correct: L'occhio destro.
Use l'occhio before a vowel sound.
Good to know
Compliments on gli occhi are common and direct in Italian. For vision care, occhiali are glasses and lenti a contatto are contact lenses. The verb guardare (to look) pairs naturally with occhi in everyday talk.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing sunglasses at a market
ChatPal
Questi occhiali proteggono bene gli occhi.
These glasses protect the eyes well.
You
Sì, ma voglio vedere il colore dei miei occhi.
Yes, but I want to see the colour of my eyes.
ChatPal
Allora togli un attimo e guarda l'occhio allo specchio.
Then take them off a second and look at the eye in the mirror.
You
Ok… gli occhi con questa montatura stanno bene.
Ok… the eyes look good with this frame.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Eye" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Eye" in Italian
What is the plural of occhio?
Gli occhi. Notice the spelling change from occhio to occhi.
How do I say blue eyes?
Occhi blu or occhi azzurri. Azzurri often means lighter sky-blue.
How do I say keep an eye on…?
Tieni d'occhio… with tu, or tenere d'occhio in the infinitive.
Are glasses related to occhio?
Yes. Occhiali means glasses, built from the same root.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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