Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Short" in Italian: basso/a
basso/a
Note: length: corto/a
Short (not tall) in Italian is basso (BAHS-soh) masculine and bassa feminine. For short length use corto, not basso.
Describing a friend
Luca è basso ma velocissimo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce basso/a
Say it
BAHS-soh
/ˈbas.so/
Basso stresses BAHS: BAHS-soh. Double s. Bassa is BAHS-sah.
"Short" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| basso / bassa | short / low (height) People, ceilings, volume. | People, ceilings, volume. |
| più basso | shorter / lower Comparisons. | Comparisons. |
| a voce bassa | in a low voice Whispering. | Whispering. |
| corto / corta | short (length) Hair, skirts, trips—not height. | Hair, skirts, trips—not height. |
How to use basso/a in real life
- 1Describing a friend
Luca è basso ma velocissimo.
Luca is short but very fast.
Basso for height.
- 2Apartment hunt
Il soffitto è troppo basso.
The ceiling is too low.
Basso for height of a space.
- 3Library whisper
Parla a voce bassa, per favore.
Speak in a low voice, please.
Voce bassa.
Mistakes English speakers make with basso/a
Incorrect: Marco è corto.
Correct: Marco è basso.
For people, short height is basso; corto is length.
Incorrect: La ragazza è basso.
Correct: La ragazza è bassa.
Agree: bassa feminine.
Good to know
Italians joke about being basso the way English speakers joke about being short—usually affectionate. For clothes and hair, switch to corto without thinking.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Picking seats at the cinema
ChatPal
Vuoi stare davanti? Sei un po' basso.
Want to sit in front? You're a bit short.
You
Sì, se resto indietro non vedo: sono basso.
Yes, if I stay in back I can't see: I'm short.
ChatPal
Allora prendiamo la seconda fila.
Then let's take the second row.
You
Perfetto, grazie.
Perfect, thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Short" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Short" in Italian
Basso or corto?
Basso = short/low height; corto = short length.
Feminine form?
Bassa.
How do I say shorter than me?
Più basso / più bassa di me.
Low voice?
A voce bassa.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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