porcellino

piglet

noun por-chel-LEE-noh Rare

Also means

little pig

Usage Note

Porcellino is the diminutive of porcello (young pig), itself from porco (pig). The phrase porcellino salvadanaio (or simply salvadanaio a forma di porcellino) is the Italian for 'piggy bank'. The familiar tale I tre porcellini is 'The Three Little Pigs'. As a term of mild affection or teasing, it can refer to a messy child.

Examples

"Il porcellino mangiava nel fango."

Natural Translation

The piglet was eating in the mud.

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