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Italian vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "octopus" in Italian?
il polpo
In Italian, "octopus" is il polpo.
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Pronunciation
POHL-poh, two syllables. Rhymes with 'poll' + 'go.' The stress is on the first syllable.
Grammar notes
Il polpo is masculine. The plural is i polpi. Polpo literally means 'many-foot' in Greek, and Italians use polpo for the animal.
Example sentence
Il polpo è un maestro del camouflamento marino.
The octopus is a master of sea camouflage.
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How to remember il polpo
Polpo sounds short and punchy, like the octopus itself is compact with all its arms coiled up.
Related words
- beluga il beluga
- fly la mosca
- metal il metallo
- mosquito la zanzara
- orca l’orca
- pelican il pellicano
- seafood i frutti di mare
- squid il calamaro
- whale la balena
Browse all Italian words in the glossary.
Questions about il polpo
How do you say "octopus" in Italian?
In Italian, "octopus" is il polpo. It is a noun.
Is il polpo masculine or feminine?
Il polpo is masculine. The plural is i polpi. Polpo literally means 'many-foot' in Greek, and Italians use polpo for the animal.
How is il polpo used in a sentence?
Use il polpo as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: Il polpo è un maestro del camouflamento marino. (The octopus is a master of sea camouflage.).
Where can I practice Italian words for free?
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"Octopus" in other languages
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