carino Italian · revision 37811

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1301, Libro di Mino (Pistoia)|origins=la cārus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /kaˈri.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''carino''' (feminine carina, masculine plural carini, feminine plural carine, superlative carinissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|it|caro|-ino]], the affectionate diminutive of the adjective meaning “dear”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The base word is [[inh|la|cārus|t=dear; costly]], found in every Romance language except Romanian: [[fr|cher]], [[ca|car]], [[es|caro]] and [[pt|caro]].^(LEI|12, 836)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The LEI finds ''carino'' “amiable, dear” in a Pistoia account book of 1301;^(LEI|12, 836)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010) DELI and GRADIT date the word from Goldoni in 1761, Nocentini from 1735.^(LEI|12, 836)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010) In Goldoni it is already ironic: a lady answers her husband's excuses with ''Sì sì, carino, ho capito'' “Yes, yes, dear, I understand”.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 18th century the word meant “graceful, pleasant” of things and people, and also, said with irony, “nasty, disagreeable”.^(LEI|12, 836)^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo noted that it was used above all to children and young people, and that to an adult it could sound ironic or condescending, ''Carino mio!'' even expressing impatience or threat.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Manzoni, Nievo and Carducci all used it, often with irony.^(GDLI) As a noun, ''carino'' was a favourite or pet child (1866, De Sanctis).^(LEI|12, 836)

+

+ The dialects have the same diminutive: Ligurian ''carìn'', Bolognese ''carein'', Romagnol ''carēn'' and Neapolitan ''carino''.^(LEI|12, 836) In today's Italian it means “pretty, cute” of people and things, “pleasant” of a film or story, and “kind, nice” of behaviour.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1301 – ''carino'' “amiable” in a Pistoia account book.^(LEI|12, 836)

+ * 1735 – Nocentini's date for the modern word.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1761 – Goldoni uses ''carino'', ironically.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1866 – Francesco De Sanctis uses ''carino'' as a noun for a favourite child.^(LEI|12, 836)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Pleasant to look at, [[m|en|pretty]], [[m|en|cute]]: ''Che carina la tua borsa nuova!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a person, attractive, good-looking.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Pleasant, enjoyable: ''un libro carino''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Kind, considerate, [[m|en|nice]]: ''È stato carino da parte tua telefonarmi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Sweet, thoughtful: ''un biglietto carino''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(ironic)'' Said in reproach or indignation: ''Carino!'' “Charming!”^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[carineria]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[caro]]

+ * [[carezza]]

+ * [[la|cārus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}