Meaning
nail, claw
In a sentence
Mi sono rotta un'unghia ieri in palestra.
I broke a nail yesterday at the gym.
Il gatto ha le unghie molto affilate.
The cat has very sharp claws.
Hai tagliato l'unghia del pollice?
Did you cut the thumbnail?
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| unghia | feminine · singular |
| unghie | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Usually singular for one nail: un'unghia. Plural is unghie. Don't confuse it with unghiare, which is a verb.
- Use unghia for human nails and animal claws in general; artiglio is more specific for a sharp talon or hooked claw.
- Common in everyday speech. For fingernail specifically, Italians may clarify with unghia della mano; for toenail, unghia del piede.