Italian · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Shark" in Italian: squalo
lo squalo
Shark in Italian is lo squalo (loh SKWAH-loh), masculine: uno squalo, due squali. Documentaries and aquariums use it constantly; beach talk is rarer in Italy.
At the aquarium
Guarda lo squalo dietro il vetro!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce squalo
Say it
loh SKWAH-loh
/ˈskwa.lo/
Squalo stresses SKWAH: SKWAH-loh. The qu is a kw sound.
"Shark" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| lo squalo | the shark Default noun. | Default noun. |
| uno squalo | a shark Spotting one on screen. | Spotting one on screen. |
| gli squali | the sharks Plural. | Plural. |
| squalo bianco | great white shark Species talk. | Species talk. |
How to use squalo in real life
- 1At the aquarium
Guarda lo squalo dietro il vetro!
Look at the shark behind the glass!
Lo squalo for that one.
- 2Watching a documentary
In questo film c'è uno squalo enorme.
In this film there's a huge shark.
Uno squalo.
- 3Kids' book
I bambini disegnano tre squali blu.
The kids are drawing three blue sharks.
Squali plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with squalo
Incorrect: La squalo è pericoloso.
Correct: Lo squalo è pericoloso.
Squalo takes lo/uno in the singular.
Incorrect: Ho visto due squalo.
Correct: Ho visto due squali.
Plural is squali.
Good to know
Italy’s seas rarely centre everyday chat on sharks; squalo is more film, aquarium, and metaphor (uno squalo in affari). Beach flags matter more than shark warnings.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
At a marine park tank
ChatPal
Vedi lo squalo che passa lento?
Do you see the shark swimming slowly by?
You
Sì… quello squalo sembra enorme da vicino.
Yes… that shark looks huge up close.
ChatPal
Non toccare il vetro, c'è scritto lì.
Don't touch the glass; it says so there.
You
Ok, faccio solo una foto.
Ok, I'll just take a photo.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Shark" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Shark" in Italian
Why lo squalo, not il?
Words starting with s + consonant take lo/uno: lo squalo, uno squalo.
What is the plural?
Gli squali.
How do I say shark attack?
Un attacco di squalo—rare in casual Italian chat.
Is there a cute diminutive?
Squaletto appears in kids' talk, but squalo is the standard word.
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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