cartaccia

waste paper

noun kar-TAHT-chah Rare

Also means

worthless document

Usage Note

Cartaccia is the pejorative augmentative of carta (paper), formed with the suffix -accia. It refers to scrap paper, litter, or any document considered worthless. The plural is cartacce. In colloquial speech it is also used figuratively for a bad deal or a worthless piece of writing (quel contratto è una cartaccia = that contract isn't worth the paper it's written on).

Examples

"Il pavimento era coperto di cartacce."

Natural Translation

The floor was covered in waste paper.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Tu vs Lei: Formal & Informal "You" in Italian

When in doubt, use Lei. Here's exactly when to use tu vs Lei in Italian — the who-to-use-with map, the verb and possessive shifts, and how to switch politely.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Hand Gestures: Meanings & When to Use

Italian hand gestures decoded: what the pinched fingers, cheek screw, and chin flick mean, which ones are safe to use, and the one gesture to never make.

June 5, 2026 6 min read