Skip to content

graffito

graffito, inscription

noun graf-FEE-toh Rare
Arts & Culture Visual Arts

Origin: From Italian graffiare (to scratch), from Greek graphein (to write).

Usage Note

Graffito is the singular form; the plural is graffiti — the form borrowed into English for the street-art sense. In Italian, graffiti simply means 'writings scratched on a surface'; the art form sense is also understood. Note that English speakers often misuse 'graffiti' as a singular, but in Italian un graffito (one piece) vs i graffiti (multiple) is strictly observed.

Examples

"I graffiti sui muri della città sono coloratissimi."

Natural Translation

The graffiti on the city walls are very colourful.

Literal Translation

The graffiti on-the walls of-the city are very-colourful.

Explore Italian by topic