Italian · Travel & Getting Around

"Postcard" in Italian: cartolina

la cartolina

Say it: kar-toh-LEE-nahfeminine · la cartolinanoun/kartoˈli.na/

Postcard in Italian is la cartolina (kar-toh-LEE-nah), feminine. Plural is le cartoline. Mandare una cartolina is a classic travel ritual.

Souvenir shop

Prendo tre cartoline del Duomo.
I'll take three postcards of the cathedral.
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How to pronounce cartolina

Say it

kar-toh-LEE-nah

/kartoˈli.na/

Cartolina stresses LEE: kar-toh-LEE-nah. Soft c before a.

"Postcard" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
la cartolinathe postcard

Travel mail.

le cartolinepostcards

Plural.

mandare una cartolinato send a postcard

Vacation habit.

cartolina illustratapicture postcard

Tourist shops.

How to use cartolina in real life

  1. 1Souvenir shop

    Prendo tre cartoline del Duomo.

    I'll take three postcards of the cathedral.

    Cartoline.

  2. 2Writing at a café

    Sto scrivendo una cartolina ai nonni.

    I'm writing a postcard to my grandparents.

    Una cartolina.

  3. 3Post office

    Quanto costa spedire questa cartolina?

    How much does it cost to send this postcard?

    Questa cartolina.

Mistakes English speakers make with cartolina

Incorrect: Il cartolina è bella.

Correct: La cartolina è bella.

Feminine: la cartolina.

Incorrect: Mando una postcard.

Correct: Mando una cartolina.

Use cartolina.

Good to know

Cartoline still sell next to fridge magnets even in the phone era. A short ciao dalla spiaggia feels more personal than a story post.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Buying stamps for vacation mail

  1. ChatPal

    Hai già scelto la cartolina per tua sorella?

    Have you already chosen the postcard for your sister?

  2. You

    Sì, questa cartolina con il mare.

    Yes, this postcard with the sea.

  3. ChatPal

    Compriamo i francobolli per le cartoline?

    Shall we buy stamps for the postcards?

  4. You

    Sì, ne servono quattro.

    Yes, we need four.

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"Postcard" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Postcard" in Italian

Gender?

Feminine: la cartolina.

Plural?

Le cartoline.

Send a postcard?

Mandare una cartolina.

Picture postcard?

Cartolina illustrata.

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