Meaning
cicada
- A winged insect known for the loud, rhythmic buzzing produced by males in summer.
- Figuratively, a spendthrift or person who lives carelessly without thinking of the future (referencing Aesop's fable).
In a sentence
In estate il frinire delle cicale accompagna i pomeriggi caldi.
In summer, the buzzing of cicadas accompanies hot afternoons.
Ha speso tutti i suoi risparmi vivendo da vera cicala.
He spent all his savings, living like a true spendthrift.
Riesci a sentire il canto delle cicale tra gli ulivi?
Can you hear the song of the cicadas among the olive trees?
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| cicala | feminine · singular |
| cicale | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- The verb for the sound cicadas make is 'frinire' (to chirp, to buzz).
- Used metaphorically as the opposite of 'formica' (ant, i.e., a thrifty, hardworking person).