Italian Phrase
Dipingo con gli acquerelli.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that they paint using water‑colour paints. It highlights the medium (acquerelli) rather than the subject of the painting.
When to use
Use this sentence when you talk about your artistic hobby, describe what you do in an art class, or answer a question about the materials you prefer for painting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dipingocongliacquerelli
Verb dipingere (present)
‘Dipingo’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘dipingere’, meaning ‘I paint’.
Preposition con
‘Con’ means ‘with’ and is used to introduce the instrument or material.
Definite article gli
‘Gli’ is the plural masculine article used before a vowel or ‘z’, ‘s+consonant’, e.g., ‘gli acquerelli’.
Noun acquerelli
‘Acquerelli’ is the plural of ‘acquerello’, a type of water‑based paint.
🗨In Conversation
Che tipo di pittura ti piace di più?
What kind of painting do you like most?
Dipingo con gli acquerelli.
I paint with water‑colours.
✕Common Mistakes
Dipingo con il acquerelli.
‘Il’ is singular; the correct plural article before a vowel is ‘gli’.
Dipingo con gli acquerello.
When the article is plural ‘gli’, the noun must also be plural.
Pinto con gli acquerelli.
‘Pinto’ is more often used for ‘I paint (a surface)’, while ‘dipingo’ specifically refers to creating a picture.
↔Alternatives
Uso gli acquerelli per dipingere.
I use water‑colours to paint.
Mi dedico alla pittura ad acquerello.
I devote myself to watercolor painting.
Cultural Tip
Water‑colour painting (acquerello) has a long tradition in Italy, especially for capturing the luminous quality of the Italian countryside and seascapes. When speaking, remember that ‘acquerelli’ is plural; the singular form is ‘acquerello’. In informal conversation you may also hear ‘pinto con gli acquerelli’, but ‘dipingo’ is the more precise verb for painting.