ghiaccio

ice

noun GYAHT-choh Rare

Origin: Latin glacies

Usage Note

Ghiaccio has a tricky pronunciation: gh before i = hard 'g' + 'y' glide, and cc before i = 'ch' sound, giving GYAHT-choh. The plural is ghiacci, though it is often used as an uncountable noun. In Italian, rompere il ghiaccio ('to break the ice') is the same idiom as in English. Pista di ghiaccio = 'ice rink'; acqua di ghiaccio = 'ice water.'

Examples

"Vuoi il ghiaccio nel bicchiere?"

Natural Translation

Do you want ice in the glass?

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