Italian · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Glasses (eyeglasses)" in Italian: occhiali
gli occhiali
Glasses in Italian are gli occhiali (lyohk-KYAH-lee)—plural only in everyday talk. Sunglasses are occhiali da sole; reading glasses are occhiali da lettura.
Leaving home
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How to pronounce occhiali
Say it
lyohk-KYAH-lee
/okˈkja.li/
Occhiali stresses KYAH: ohk-KYAH-lee. Soft chi sound.
"Glasses (eyeglasses)" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| gli occhiali | the glasses Eyeglasses. | Eyeglasses. |
| occhiali da sole | sunglasses Sunny days. | Sunny days. |
| mettere gli occhiali | to put on glasses Daily habit. | Daily habit. |
| senza occhiali | without glasses Can't see clearly. | Can't see clearly. |
How to use occhiali in real life
- 1Leaving home
Dove ho messo gli occhiali?
Where did I put my glasses?
Gli occhiali.
- 2At the optician
Mi servono occhiali nuovi per leggere.
I need new glasses for reading.
Occhiali nuovi.
- 3Beach bag
Prendi anche gli occhiali da sole.
Take the sunglasses too.
Occhiali da sole.
Mistakes English speakers make with occhiali
Incorrect: Il occhiale è rotto. (everyday)
Correct: Gli occhiali sono rotti.
Everyday Italian treats them as plural: gli occhiali.
Incorrect: Ho perso my glasses.
Correct: Ho perso gli occhiali.
Use occhiali.
Good to know
Italian opticians (ottici) are common high-street stops. People say metto gli occhiali the way English says I put my glasses on—simple and frequent.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Looking for glasses before leaving
ChatPal
Hai gli occhiali nella tasca?
Do you have your glasses in your pocket?
You
No… senza occhiali non leggo il menu.
No… without glasses I can't read the menu.
ChatPal
Ecco: gli occhiali sono sul tavolo.
Here: the glasses are on the table.
You
Salvo! Andiamo.
Saved! Let's go.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Glasses (eyeglasses)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Glasses (eyeglasses)" in Italian
Why always plural?
Because you wear a pair—gli occhiali is the normal form.
How do I say sunglasses?
Occhiali da sole.
What about contact lenses?
Le lenti a contatto.
How do I say I wear glasses?
Porto gli occhiali.
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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