Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Thin" in Italian: magro/a
magro/a
Thin in Italian is magro (MAH-groh) masculine and magra feminine. For thin paper or fabric use sottile. Magro also means low-fat on food labels.
Describing someone carefully
È alto e magro, con i capelli corti.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce magro/a
Say it
MAH-groh
/ˈma.ɡro/
Magro stresses MAH: MAH-groh. Soft g. Magra is MAH-grah.
"Thin" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| magro / magra | thin / lean People, meat, milk. | People, meat, milk. |
| troppo magro | too thin Concern. | Concern. |
| latte magro | skim milk Food labels. | Food labels. |
| sottile | thin (objects) Paper, walls, slices. | Paper, walls, slices. |
How to use magro/a in real life
- 1Describing someone carefully
È alto e magro, con i capelli corti.
He's tall and thin, with short hair.
Magro.
- 2Supermarket
Prendo lo yogurt magro alla vaniglia.
I'll take the low-fat vanilla yogurt.
Yogurt magro.
- 3After illness
Sei un po' magra: mangia di più.
You're a bit thin: eat more.
Magra feminine.
Mistakes English speakers make with magro/a
Incorrect: La carta è magra.
Correct: La carta è sottile.
Objects that are thin use sottile; magro is for people/food fat content.
Incorrect: Lei è magro.
Correct: Lei è magra.
Agree: magra feminine.
Good to know
Calling someone magro can sound caring or blunt depending on tone. On packaging, magro signals lighter milk and yogurt.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing milk at the store
ChatPal
Prendi il latte intero o quello magro?
Are you getting whole milk or the skim one?
You
Quello magro, per favore.
The skim one, please.
ChatPal
Ok. Anche io sto cercando di restare più magro.
Ok. I'm also trying to stay thinner.
You
Allora andiamo a piedi a casa.
Then let's walk home.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Thin" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Thin" in Italian
Magro or sottile?
Magro for people/lean food; sottile for thin objects.
Feminine?
Magra.
Skim milk?
Latte magro.
Too thin?
Troppo magro / troppo magra.
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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