somaro

donkey; dunce

noun soh-MAH-roh Rare

Origin: From Latin sagmarius (pack animal), via Vulgar Latin.

Usage Note

Somaro means both a literal donkey and, colloquially, a stupid or lazy student — a common insult in Italian schools. Calling someone un somaro implies they are hopelessly ignorant. The feminine form is somara.

Examples

"Non fare il somaro e studia!"

Natural Translation

Don't be a dunce — study!

Literal Translation

Do not make the donkey and study!

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Days & Months in Italian: A Beginner's Guide

Days of the week in Italian are lowercase, all masculine except la domenica, and il lunedì means every Monday. Learn the days, months, dates, and seasons.

June 5, 2026 4 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

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 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