A2 noun Neutre 2 min de lecture

foglio

/ˈfɔʎʎo/
Entraîne-toi Notes et astuces

Overview

The Italian word 'foglio' is a versatile masculine noun with roots in the Latin 'folium,' meaning 'leaf.' This etymology directly informs its most common and literal meanings. Primarily, 'foglio' refers to a 'sheet of paper,' whether it's a single loose sheet or one from a notebook. This is its most frequent usage in everyday conversation.

Beyond paper, 'foglio' also extends to the 'leaf' of a book or magazine, signifying a single page. It can even refer to a botanical leaf, especially when emphasizing its thinness or flatness, though 'foglia' (feminine) is more commonly used for plant leaves in general.

In a more informal context, especially when used in the plural ('fogli'), it can mean 'newspapers' or 'papers,' as in 'I read it in the papers.' In the realm of technology, 'foglio' seamlessly translates to 'spreadsheet' when paired with 'di calcolo' (of calculation), forming 'foglio di calcolo.' This highlights its adaptability to modern usage.

Furthermore, 'foglio' can describe any thin, flat layer or slice of material, such as 'un foglio di metallo' (a sheet of metal) or 'un foglio di pasta' (a sheet of pasta). This demonstrates its broader application to various thin, planar objects.

There are also several idiomatic expressions involving 'foglio.' For instance, 'foglio di via' refers to a 'travel permit' or an 'order to leave,' often issued by authorities. 'Foglio rosa' is the term for a 'learner's permit' for driving in Italy, literally translating to 'pink sheet,' referring to the color of the official document. While not directly using 'foglio' in a literal sense, phrases like 'avere il cervello in pappa' (to be scatterbrained) can be metaphorically linked to losing one's 'sheets' or coherent thoughts, though this is a more distant association. Another interesting phrase is 'fare un foglio bianco,' which literally means 'to leave a blank page' but figuratively implies starting over or ignoring past issues. Understanding the nuances of 'foglio' reveals its rich semantic range and its integral role in the Italian language.

Exemples

1

Ho bisogno di un foglio di carta.

I need a sheet of paper.

2

Il vento ha portato via tutti i fogli.

The wind carried away all the sheets.

Collocations courantes

foglio di carta
foglio protocollo
foglio a quadretti
mezzo foglio

Phrases Courantes

foglio di via (travel permit/order to leave)

foglio rosa (learner's permit for driving)

avere il cervello in pappa / avere il cervello fritto / avere il cervello a pezzi (informal, to be scatterbrained or confused, literally 'to have brain like mush/fried/in pieces', not directly related to 'foglio' but sometimes used in contexts where one might lose their 'sheets' or thoughts)

fare un foglio bianco (to leave a blank page, often figuratively meaning to start anew or ignore something)

Souvent confondu avec

foglio vs soglio

one letter

Modèles grammaticaux

un foglio di carta (a sheet of paper) piegare il foglio (to fold the sheet) il foglio illustrativo (the leaflet/instruction sheet)

Comment l'utiliser

When using 'foglio' in Italian, it's important to consider its various nuances and common expressions. While its primary meaning is a 'sheet of paper,' it can also refer to a 'leaf' (of a book or plant), a 'foil' (in fencing), or even a 'thin sheet' of metal or other material. Context is key to disambiguation. For example, 'un foglio di carta' explicitly means 'a sheet of paper,' while 'un foglio di giornale' refers to a 'newspaper page.' The diminutive 'foglietto' might be used for a small note or leaflet. 'Mettere nero su bianco su un foglio' means 'to put something in writing on a sheet of paper.' The plural 'fogli' is used for multiple sheets. It's often used in academic or professional settings for reports, documents, or forms. Colloquially, 'dare un foglio' can mean to hand someone a piece of paper for a specific purpose, such as writing down an address. Understanding these contextual usages allows for more natural and accurate communication in Italian.

Erreurs courantes

Remember it's masculine, so 'il foglio', not 'la foglio'. The 'gli' sound can be tricky for English speakers.

Astuces

💡

Use 'foglio' for a sheet of paper or a leaf.

The word 'foglio' is versatile and can refer to a sheet of paper, like in 'un foglio di carta' (a sheet of paper), or a leaf of a tree, as in 'un foglio di quercia' (an oak leaf).

💡

Distinguish from 'libro' (book) or 'pagina' (page).

While 'foglio' can be part of a book, it's not synonymous with 'libro' (book) which refers to the entire bound collection of pages. 'Pagina' refers to one side of a sheet, whereas 'foglio' refers to the entire physical sheet, which has two pages.

💡

Common phrases with 'foglio'.

You'll often hear 'un foglio bianco' (a blank sheet), 'scrivere su un foglio' (to write on a sheet), or 'un foglio di calcolo' (a spreadsheet).

Origine du mot

From Latin 'folium' (leaf), which also gives us related words in other Romance languages like 'feuille' (French) and 'hoja' (Spanish).

Contexte culturel

The word 'foglio' in Italian, meaning 'sheet of paper,' carries a rich cultural significance beyond its literal translation. Italy, with its deep historical roots in art, literature, and scholarly pursuits, has long valued the written word and the medium upon which it is inscribed. From the illuminated manuscripts of the medieval period to the legal documents of the Roman Empire and the poetic works of Dante and Petrarch, the 'foglio' has been central to the preservation and dissemination of Italian culture. It evokes a sense of tradition and craftsmanship, often associated with the careful preparation of materials for writing or drawing. In everyday life, a 'foglio' can be a blank canvas for creativity, a medium for formal communication, or a simple surface for notes and calculations. The very act of handling a 'foglio' can bring to mind the tactile experience of paper, an element often appreciated in a culture that values sensory experiences.

Astuce mémo

Imagine a 'folio' (old term for a large sheet of paper) and it sounds similar to 'foglio'.

Questions fréquentes

4 questions

The Italian word for 'sheet of paper' is 'foglio'. It's a very common word you'll encounter in various contexts, from asking for a piece of paper to referring to a page in a book or a document. Understanding its usage is quite helpful for anyone learning Italian or dealing with Italian documents.

The pronunciation of 'foglio' can be broken down. 'Fo' is pronounced like the 'fo' in 'for'. The 'gli' combination is a unique sound in Italian, similar to the 'lli' in 'million' or the 'gl' in 'galleon', but with a softer, almost liquid sound. Finally, 'o' is a standard 'o' sound. So, it's roughly 'FOH-lyoh'. Practice makes perfect!

Absolutely! 'Foglio' appears in many useful phrases. For example, 'un foglio di carta' means 'a sheet of paper'. You might also hear 'foglio di via', which historically referred to a travel pass, or 'foglio elettronico', meaning 'spreadsheet'. Context often helps determine the specific nuance of 'foglio' in a phrase.

The plural of 'foglio' is 'fogli'. In Italian, many masculine nouns ending in '-o' in the singular form their plural by changing the '-o' to '-i'. So, if you're asking for multiple sheets of paper, you would say 'due fogli di carta' (two sheets of paper).

Teste-toi

fill blank

Ho bisogno di un ____ di carta per scrivere.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
fill blank

Puoi passarmi quel ____ di carta per favore?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
fill blank

Il professore ha distribuito un ____ con gli esercizi.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

Score : /3

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