Italian · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Horse" in Italian: cavallo

il cavallo

Say it: eel kah-VAHL-lohmasculine · il cavallonoun/kaˈval.lo/

Horse in Italian is il cavallo (eel kah-VAHL-loh), masculine: un cavallo, i cavalli. Riding is andare a cavallo.

At a farm

Il cavallo bianco è molto calmo.
The white horse is very calm.
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How to pronounce cavallo

Say it

eel kah-VAHL-loh

/kaˈval.lo/

kah-VAHL-loh, stress on VAHL. Double l. Cavalli is kah-VAHL-lee.

"Horse" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
il cavallothe horse

The animal.

un cavalloa horse

One horse.

i cavallithe horses

Plural.

a cavalloon horseback

Riding.

How to use cavallo in real life

  1. 1At a farm

    Il cavallo bianco è molto calmo.

    The white horse is very calm.

    Il cavallo.

  2. 2Holiday plan

    Domenica andiamo a cavallo in collina.

    Sunday we're going horseback riding in the hills.

    A cavallo.

  3. 3Watching a race

    Quei cavalli corrono velocissimi.

    Those horses run incredibly fast.

    Cavalli plural.

Mistakes English speakers make with cavallo

Incorrect: La cavallo è alto.

Correct: Il cavallo è alto.

Cavallo is masculine.

Incorrect: Vedo due cavallo.

Correct: Vedo due cavalli.

Plural is cavalli.

Good to know

From countryside agriturismi to Palio pageantry, cavalli stay in Italian cultural life. A cavallo is also a set phrase for riding, not a literal on the horse every time.

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Choosing a riding lesson

  1. ChatPal

    Vuoi montare il cavallo più tranquillo?

    Do you want to ride the calmest horse?

  2. You

    Sì. È il mio primo cavallo, vai piano.

    Yes. It's my first horse—go slow.

  3. ChatPal

    Quel cavallo ascolta bene i comandi.

    That horse listens well to commands.

  4. You

    Perfetto. Dopo saluto anche gli altri cavalli.

    Perfect. Afterwards I'll greet the other horses too.

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"Horse" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Horse" in Italian

Is cavallo masculine?

Yes: il cavallo, un cavallo.

What is the plural?

I cavalli.

How do I say horseback riding?

Andare a cavallo.

What is a mare called?

Una cavalla.

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