Italian Vocabulary to Talk About the Environment

Parliamo della controversia sul riscaldamento globale?

Given all that’s happened recently with natural disasters, the environment — or the degradation of it — is a hotter topic than ever. (Pun NOT intended.)

If you want to discuss this with your language partner, a friend, or family member, how can you express your concerns in Italian? What are the specific, scientific words you need to know to accurately convey your opinion and what you’re reading in the news?

Below you’ll find a list of vocabulary and a dialogue that will help you be prepared for a conversation about what’s going on environmentally.

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Basic Vocabulary

• La terra – Earth

• Il mondo – World

• Il clima – Weather / climate

• L’ambiente — Environment

• L’oceano – Ocean

• Il deserto – Desert

• L’aria – Air

• La temperatura – Temperature

• I gradi centigradi – Centigrades

• Il riscaldamento globale – Global warming

• Le tendenze attuali – Current trends

• Gli scienzati – Scientists

• La scienza – Science

• Gli esperimenti – Experiments

• La ricerca – Research

• I ricercatori – Researchers

• Gli attivisti – Activists

• L’inquinamento – Pollution

Other, more specific vocabulary: