ricamare

to embroider

verb ree-kah-MAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Arabic raqama (to embroider, mark).

Usage Note

Ricamare means to work decorative needlework onto fabric. Figuratively it can mean to embellish a story: ricamare troppo su un fatto means to over-elaborate the truth. The resulting object is il ricamo (embroidery). It takes avere as its auxiliary.

Examples

"Mia nonna ricama tovaglie bellissime."

Natural Translation

My grandmother embroiders beautiful tablecloths.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Buongiorno, Ciao or Salve? Italian Greetings Made Easy

When in doubt, say salve and mirror the reply. Here's how to pick between buongiorno, buonasera, ciao and salve so your Italian greetings never sound rude.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Restaurant Etiquette: Mistakes to Avoid

Skip the cappuccino after dinner, never put parmesan on fish, and learn the exact Italian phrases to order gracefully and avoid looking like a tourist.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Present Tense: -are, -ere, -ire Verbs

Conjugate Italian present-tense verbs fast: one color-coded chart for -are, -ere, and -ire endings, plus the sneaky -isc- group most guides bury.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read