chiodo

nail

noun KYOH-doh Rare

Origin: From Latin clavus (nail).

Also means

obsession; fixation

Usage Note

Chiodo means a metal nail (piantare un chiodo, to drive a nail). Figuratively avere un chiodo fisso means to have a fixation or an idea one cannot shake. The idiom chiodo scaccia chiodo ('one nail drives out another') is the Italian equivalent of 'the best cure for heartbreak is a new love'. The plural chiodi is regular.

Examples

"Ha piantato un chiodo nel muro per appendere il quadro."

Natural Translation

He drove a nail into the wall to hang the picture.

Literal Translation

He-has planted a nail in-the wall to hang the picture.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Days & Months in Italian: A Beginner's Guide

Days of the week in Italian are lowercase, all masculine except la domenica, and il lunedì means every Monday. Learn the days, months, dates, and seasons.

June 5, 2026 4 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Restaurant Etiquette: Mistakes to Avoid

Skip the cappuccino after dinner, never put parmesan on fish, and learn the exact Italian phrases to order gracefully and avoid looking like a tourist.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read