Meaning
boy, child
In a sentence
Da fanciullo trascorreva tutte le estati in campagna dai nonni.
As a child, he spent every summer in the countryside with his grandparents.
Il poeta descrive con nostalgia gli anni in cui era fanciullo.
The poet describes with nostalgia the years when he was a child.
I fanciulli non hanno ancora finito il compito.
The children still haven't finished the homework.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| fanciullo | masculine · singular |
| fanciulli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Literary or old-fashioned in everyday Italian; bambini, ragazzi, or figli are much more common in normal conversation.
- Often appears in formal, poetic, or religious contexts. Using it casually can sound affected or archaic.
- Plural is fanciulli; feminine forms are fanciulla and fanciulle.