Meaning
mongrel, mixed-breed
- An animal of mixed breed, especially a crossbreed dog (mongrel/mutt).
- A person of mixed descent or background (historical or demographic contexts).
In a sentence
Abbiamo adottato un simpatico meticcio al canile comunale.
We adopted a lovely mongrel at the municipal shelter.
I cani meticci tendono a soffrire meno di malattie genetiche rispetto a quelli di razza pura.
Mixed-breed dogs tend to suffer less from genetic diseases than purebred ones.
Quell'antico popolo nacque dalla fusione culturale tra meticci e coloni.
That ancient people originated from the cultural fusion between people of mixed race and settlers.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| meticcio | masculine · singular |
| meticci | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Can also function as an adjective: 'cane meticcio' (crossbreed dog).
- When referring to people, use with care as it carries colonial historical connotations.