Italian · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Fox" in Italian: volpe

la volpe

Say it: VOL-pehfeminine · la volpenoun/ˈvol.pe/

Fox in Italian is la volpe (VOL-peh). It is feminine even for a male fox: la volpe maschio. Figuratively it can mean a crafty person.

In the countryside

Abbiamo visto una volpe vicino al bosco.
We saw a fox near the woods.
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How to pronounce volpe

Say it

VOL-peh

/ˈvol.pe/

Volpe is VOL-peh. Stress the first syllable; the e is open.

"Fox" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
la volpethe fox

The animal.

le volpithe foxes

Plural.

furbo come una volpesly as a fox

Set comparison.

volpe rossared fox

Species talk.

How to use volpe in real life

  1. 1In the countryside

    Abbiamo visto una volpe vicino al bosco.

    We saw a fox near the woods.

    Una volpe as wildlife.

  2. 2Kids' story

    Nella fiaba la volpe inganna il corvo.

    In the fable the fox tricks the crow.

    Classic story volpe.

  3. 3Calling someone sly

    Attento: è furbo come una volpe.

    Careful: he's as sly as a fox.

    Idiom with volpe.

Mistakes English speakers make with volpe

Incorrect: Il volpe.

Correct: La volpe.

Volpe is feminine.

Incorrect: Un fox nel giardino.

Correct: Una volpe nel giardino.

Use volpe, not English fox.

Good to know

La volpe shows up in fables and in furbo come una volpe. In rural Italy people still spot volpi at dusk near fields; the word stays concrete, not only literary.

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On a nature walk

  1. ChatPal

    Guarda: c'è una volpe dietro gli alberi!

    Look: there's a fox behind the trees!

  2. You

    Wow. La volpe è bellissima.

    Wow. The fox is beautiful.

  3. ChatPal

    Qui le volpi escono spesso al tramonto.

    Here foxes often come out at sunset.

  4. You

    Faccio una foto alla volpe senza disturbarla.

    I'll take a photo of the fox without bothering it.

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"Fox" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Fox" in Italian

Is volpe masculine or feminine?

Feminine: la volpe, even for a male fox.

How do I say foxes?

Le volpi.

Sly as a fox?

Furbo come una volpe.

Baby fox?

Un cucciolo di volpe.

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