If you’ve ever watched sports in Italian, you’ve probably heard squadra a lot: it’s basically the standard word for “team.” But it’s not limited to the football field or volleyball court. We use it in many other contexts, from geometry class to groups of people doing something together.
squadra
So, let’s see all the main ways you can use squadra in everyday Italian conversation. But first, the grammar: squadra is a feminine noun:
- la squadra / una squadra in singular
- le squadre / delle squadre in plural
1. SQUADRA = Team (sports)
In sports, squadra is simply “team.” Whether it’s soccer, basketball, or even bocce, anytime a group of players compete together, they’re a squadra.
La nostra difesa non è stata abbastanza efficace contro la squadra avversaria.
Our defence wasn’t strong enough against the opposing team.
Che belle le nuove divise della squadra di pallacanestro!
The basketball team’s new uniforms look great!
Typical expressions with squadra in this sense:
- Squadra di calcio / pallacanestro: football / basketball team
- Prima squadra: first team (main professional team)
- Squadra primavera: youth team
- Squadra agonistica: competitive team
- Squadra dilettantistica: amateur team
- Squadra avversaria: opposing team
- Sport a squadre: team sport
- Il capitano della squadra: team captain
- Compagno/a di squadra: teammate
- La squadra del cuore: favourite team
- Tifare una squadra: to cheer for a team
- Cambiare squadra: to switch team
- Essere fuori squadra: to be out of the team
- Stare in squadra con qualcuno: to be on the same team as someone
Mia sorella gioca in una squadra di pallanuoto locale e ogni domenica andiamo a tifare.
My sister plays in a local water polo team, and every Sunday we go cheer for her.
Molti iniziano nella squadra primavera prima di indossare la maglia della prima squadra.
Many start in the youth team before wearing the first team’s jersey.
But squadra is not just for team sports; it can also refer to a group of athletes representing the same country, even if they compete individually. For example:
- La squadra di atletica leggera: the track and field team
- La squadra azzurra: the Italian national team (fun fact: azzurro means “light blue” and is traditionally the colour of Italy’s national sports teams, originally chosen because it was one of the colours of the Royal House of Savoy, which once ruled Italy)
- La squadra olimpica: the Olympic team
Il Presidente della Repubblica ha ricevuto la squadra azzurra di ritorno dai mondiali di atletica.
The President of the Republic welcomed the Italian national team back from the track and field world cup.
La squadra olimpica di nuoto è stata accolta dai tifosi al ritorno in Italia.
The Olympic swimming team was welcomed by fans upon returning to Italy.
2. SQUADRA = Team (work)
Outside of sports, we use squadra in a more generic sense to talk about a group of people working together to tackle a project, solve a problem, or just get something done efficiently.
La squadra di pronto intervento ha salvato diverse persone durante l’alluvione.
The rapid response team saved several people during the flood.
These are some common expressions you might hear:
- Una squadra specializzata: a specialized team
- Una squadra di operai: a team of workers
- Una squadra di vigili del fuoco: a fire brigade team
- Una squadra di pronto intervento: a rapid response team
- Una squadra del soccorso alpino: a mountain rescue team
- Spirito di squadra: team spirit
- Fare squadra: to work as a team
- Gioco di squadra: team play
- Lavoro di squadra: teamwork
Abbiamo assunto una squadra di operai specializzati per ristrutturare il tetto della nostra casa in montagna.
We hired a team of specialised workers to renovate the roof of our mountain house.
Sofia è molto brava nel lavoro di squadra, riesce sempre a coinvolgere i suoi colleghi nei vari progetti.
Sofia is great at teamwork, she always manages to get her colleagues involved in different projects.
3. SQUADRA = Squad (military and police context)
In Italian, squadra can also refer to a small, organised unit of soldiers or police officers working together under one leader on a specific mission.
Durante le fasi più concitate dell’operazione, è intervenuta anche la squadra paracadutisti.
During the most intense stages of the operation, the parachute squad also stepped in.
Typical expressions in this context include:
- Squadra fucilieri / mitraglieri: rifle / machine gun squad
- Squadra aerea: air squad
- Squadra paracadutisti: parachute squad
- Squadra antisommossa: riot squad
- Squadra mobile: investigative squad
- Una squadra di agenti di polizia: a squad of police officers
- Comandare una squadra: to command a squad
La squadra mobile di Brescia ha arrestato i sospetti dopo un’indagine lunga settimane.
Brescia’s investigative squad arrested the suspects after weeks of investigation.
Durante le proteste, la polizia ha schierato una squadra antisommossa per mantenere l’ordine.
During the protests, the police deployed a riot squad to keep things under control.
4. SQUADRA = Set square (the drawing tool)
Time to dust off your old geometry memories! In technical drawing, a squadra is that triangular tool in transparent plastic that helps you draw precise lines.
La squadra deve essere ben allineata con il foglio prima di tracciare la linea.
The set square must be lined up properly with the paper before you draw the line.
There are some expressions with squadra in this context, though they tend to pop up mainly in more technical discussions:
- essere in squadra: literally “to be in set square,” meaning perfectly perpendicular
- essere fuori squadra: literally “to be out of set square,” meaning not perpendicular
Assicuratevi che quei pannelli siano in squadra, altrimenti rischiamo problemi durante il montaggio dei mobili.
Make sure those panels are perfectly aligned, or we’ll run into trouble when putting the furniture together.
5. SQUADRA = A big group
In casual, everyday Italian, we sometimes use squadra as an informal synonym for “a lot of,” “a bunch,” or “a big group.”
Ieri è arrivata una squadra di ragazzi al bar, volevano tutti il nuovo gelato!
Yesterday a bunch of kids showed up at the bar, all after the new ice cream!
È appena arrivata una squadra di turisti col pullman.
A busload of tourists has just arrived.
Some idioms and related words
One very common idiom with squadra in Italian is:
Squadra che vince, non si cambia!
Literally: A winning team shouldn’t be changed.
English equivalent: Never change a winning team / If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
L’allenatore ha mantenuto la stessa formazione anche per la finale. Squadra che vince, non si cambia!
The coach kept the same lineup even for the final. Never change a winning team!
You’ll hear this expression far beyond sports; for instance, we use it a lot also at work, in group projects, such as:
Carlo e Stefano si occuperanno anche di questa nuova gara — squadra che vince, non si cambia!
Carlo and Stefano will oversee this new tender too — never change a winning team!
And now let’s see some related words:
- Squadrone: in sports, this is what we call a powerhouse team. More generally, it can also mean a really large group of people.
Il Real Madrid è uno squadrone, abbiamo poche possibilità contro di loro!
Real Madrid is a super strong team, we don’t stand a chance against them!
Dopo l’annuncio a sorpresa, uno squadrone di giornalisti ha invaso la sala stampa.
After the surprise announcement, a squad of journalists stormed the press room.
- Squadrare: to cut or shape something into a square. Figuratively, it also refers to that classic head-to-toe scrutinizing look.
Devo finire di squadrare questi blocchi di legno.
I need to finish squaring off these wooden blocks.
Appena è entrato nel locale, lo hanno squadrato dalla testa ai piedi.
As soon as he walked into the place, they scrutinised him from head to toe.
- Squadrato: squared, block-shaped. But you can use it also to describe someone with strong, chiseled features.
Mi piacciono queste linee squadrate, danno un aspetto molto moderno all’arredamento.
I like these squared lines, they give the furniture a very modern look.
I tagli scalati sono perfetti per chi ha un viso squadrato.
Layered cuts are perfect for people with a square-shaped face.
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
