Meaning
mouse; rat
- mouse, rat
- thief; person acting suspiciously or furtively
- computer mouse
In a sentence
C'è un topo in cucina, chiudi la porta.
There's a mouse in the kitchen, close the door.
Il topo corre sotto il tavolo.
The mouse runs under the table.
Il gatto guarda il topo.
The cat is watching the mouse.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| topo | masculine · singular |
| topi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- For the animal, topo is the general everyday word. Ratto sounds more specific and often refers to a larger rat.
- For the computer device, mouse is now more common in everyday Italian; topo is understandable but less usual.
- As 'thief' or 'sneaky person,' topo is informal and context-dependent; don't use it in formal writing.