Meaning
altar boy
- a boy or young person who assists the priest during religious services
- (figurative) an obedient, overly naive, or meek follower
In a sentence
Da ragazzino faceva il chierichetto nella parrocchia del paese.
As a young boy, he was an altar server in the village parish.
Non fare il chierichetto, esprimi la tua opinione!
Don't be a goody-two-shoes, speak your mind!
I chierichetti accompagnavano la processione con le candele accese.
The altar servers accompanied the procession with lit candles.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| chierichetto | masculine · singular |
| chierichetti | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Diminutive of 'chierico' (cleric). Today, 'ministrante' is the formal term used by the church.
- Figuratively used to mock someone who appears overly meek or blindly obedient.