Cranio vs. teschio
The Italian words 'cranio' and 'teschio' both refer to the skull, but they are used in different contexts and have subtle distinctions in meaning.
Cranio
'Cranio' is the more formal and scientific term for skull. It is often used in medical or anatomical contexts.
Il medico ha esaminato attentamente il cranio del paziente.
(The doctor carefully examined the patient's skull.)
Gli archeologi hanno scoperto un cranio umano antico durante gli scavi.
(Archaeologists discovered an ancient human skull during the excavation.)
Teschio
'Teschio' typically refers to a bare skull, often associated with death or used in symbolic contexts. It's more commonly used in everyday language or artistic representations.
Il teschio era il simbolo dei pirati sulla bandiera nera.
(The skull was the symbol of pirates on the black flag.)
Durante Halloween, molti negozi vendono decorazioni a forma di teschio.
(During Halloween, many stores sell skull-shaped decorations.)
Summary
While 'cranio' is used in scientific or medical contexts to refer to the skull as a part of the living body, 'teschio' is more commonly used to describe a bare skull, often in symbolic or artistic contexts associated with death or danger. 'Cranio' is more formal, while 'teschio' is more widely used in everyday language and cultural references.