Meaning
doll, babe
- An attractive young woman (slang/informal, often reminiscent of mid-century slang)
- A doll or toy figure (regional or traditional)
- A chrysalis or insect pupa (zoology)
In a sentence
Nei vecchi film di gangster il capo aveva sempre una pupa al suo fianco.
In old gangster movies, the boss always had a babe by his side.
La nonna mi ha regalato una pupa di stoffa fatta a mano.
Grandmother gave me a handmade rag doll.
Il bruco si trasforma in pupa prima di diventare una farfalla.
The caterpillar turns into a pupa before becoming a butterfly.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| pupa | feminine · singular |
| pupe | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal: when used for an attractive woman, it can sound dated, playful, or slightly objectifying.
- In everyday Italian, bambola is the standard word for 'doll'.