Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Tired" in Italian: stanco/a
stanco/a
Tired in Italian is stanco (STAHN-koh) for masculine and stanca for feminine. You say sono stanco or sono stanca after a long day; plural is stanchi / stanche.
After a hike
Sono stanco: mi fermo qui un attimo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce stanco/a
Say it
STAHN-koh
/ˈstanko/
Stanco stresses STAHN: STAHN-koh. Stanca ends with a clear kah. Keep the n fully sounded.
"Tired" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| stanco / stanca | tired (m/f) Basic agreement with the person. | Basic agreement with the person. |
| stanchi / stanche | tired (plural) For two or more people. | For two or more people. |
| sono stanco/a | I am tired Most common spoken line. | Most common spoken line. |
| stanco morto | dead tired Stronger, informal exaggeration. | Stronger, informal exaggeration. |
How to use stanco/a in real life
- 1After a hike
Sono stanco: mi fermo qui un attimo.
I'm tired: I'm stopping here a moment.
Masculine speaker: stanco.
- 2Late study night
Sei stanca? Vuoi un tè?
Are you tired? Want some tea?
Feminine: stanca.
- 3Whole group after travel
Siamo tutti stanchi dopo il treno.
We're all tired after the train.
Plural masculine default: stanchi.
Mistakes English speakers make with stanco/a
Incorrect: Sono stanco (said by a woman about herself).
Correct: Sono stanca.
Agree with the speaker: feminine stanca.
Incorrect: Sono stanco di ieri.
Correct: Sono ancora stanco da ieri.
Use da for since/from yesterday when the tiredness continues.
Good to know
Italians say sono stanco casually without drama; stanco morto amps it up among friends. For mental fatigue you may also hear stanco di + noun (tired of something), which is about being fed up, not sleepy.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Deciding whether to go out
ChatPal
Esci stasera o sei troppo stanco?
Are you going out tonight or are you too tired?
You
Sono stanco, ma una birra veloce sì.
I'm tired, but a quick beer yes.
ChatPal
Ok. Se diventi troppo stanco, torniamo subito.
Ok. If you get too tired, we'll come back right away.
You
Affare fatto. Meglio non fingere di non essere stanco.
Deal. Better not pretend I'm not tired.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Tired" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Tired" in Italian
How does stanco change with gender?
Stanco (m), stanca (f), stanchi (m plural), stanche (f plural).
How do I say I am tired?
Sono stanco or sono stanca, matching your gender.
Does stanco di mean sleepy?
Not necessarily. Stanco di qualcosa often means fed up with something.
What is a stronger version?
Stanco morto, or esausto for more formal exhausted.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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