Capello vs. cappello
The Italian words capello and cappello are a perfect example of how a single letter can completely change a word's meaning. While they sound similar, the difference between one p and a double p distinguishes hair from a hat.
Capello
A1The word capello refers to a single strand of hair. Its plural form, capelli, is most commonly used to mean the hair on a person's head.
C'è un capello nella mia minestra!
(There is a hair in my soup!)
Mi piace il colore dei tuoi capelli.
(I like the color of your hair.)
Da bambino avevo i capelli biondissimi.
(As a child, I had very blond hair.)
Devo andare dal parrucchiere a tagliare i capelli.
(I have to go to the hairdresser to get my hair cut.)
Cappello
A1The word cappello means hat, a piece of clothing worn on the head for various reasons like sun protection, warmth, or fashion.
Indosso un cappello di lana perché fa molto freddo.
(I'm wearing a wool hat because it's very cold.)
Ha comprato un elegante cappello per il matrimonio.
(She bought an elegant hat for the wedding.)
Non dimenticare il cappello da sole per la spiaggia.
(Don't forget the sun hat for the beach.)
Appendi il tuo cappello all'ingresso, per favore.
(Hang your hat in the entrance, please.)
Mi tolgo il cappello di fronte al tuo talento.
(I take my hat off to your talent.)
Summary
In short, the key difference is the consonant: capello (singular p) means hair, while cappello (double p) means hat. Remember this simple rule: you wear a cappello on your capelli.