idrocarburo

hydrocarbon

noun ee-droh-kar-BOO-roh Rare

Origin: From Greek hydro- (water/hydrogen) + Latin carbo (coal/carbon).

Usage Note

Idrocarburo is a masculine noun used mainly in technical and scientific contexts. It covers compounds like methane and benzene; in everyday speech Italians more often say petrolio or gas for specific fuels. The plural is gli idrocarburi.

Examples

"Il petrolio è un idrocarburo naturale."

Natural Translation

Oil is a natural hydrocarbon.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

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

ItalianNow

Essential Italian Travel Phrases (With Vorrei)

Vorrei means I would like — the politest, most useful Italian travel phrase. Learn five reusable frames to order, ask prices, and find your way in Italy.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Diminutives: -ino, -etto, -one Explained

Italian diminutives like -ino, -etto, and -one signal size, affection, or contempt. Learn to read the feeling, dodge gender flips, and spot false diminutives.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

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