precoce

early, premature

adjective preh-KOH-cheh Rare

Origin: Latin praecox, praecoquis, from prae (before) + coquere (to ripen)

Also means

precocious

Usage Note

Precoce describes something that happens earlier than usual — un bambino precoce (a precocious child), una morte precoce (a premature death). It is invariable for masculine and feminine singular; plural precoci. Do not confuse with the English 'precocious', which specifically implies unusual mental maturity.

Examples

"Ha mostrato un talento precoce per la musica."

Natural Translation

She showed an early talent for music.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Essere vs Avere: Italian Past Tense Made Simple

In the passato prossimo, use avere for most verbs and essere for movement, change, and reflexives — plus the agreement trap English speakers always miss.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Ti Amo vs Ti Voglio Bene: I Love You in Italian

Ti amo is romantic love; ti voglio bene is tender affection for family and close friends. Here's exactly who to say each phrase to in Italian.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

C'è vs Ci Sono: There Is/Are in Italian

C'è for one thing, ci sono for many — that's the rule. Master Italian's there is/there are with c'era, ci sarà, è vs c'è, and non c'è nessuno.

June 9, 2026 5 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