Cinquina

Cinquina is an Italian term that literally means a group of five. It derives from the word cinque (five) with the diminutive suffix -ina, and it is used in Italian to denote a quintet or set of five items. In gambling and gaming contexts, cinquina refers to a wager or a five-number combination.

In lottery-style gambling, the cinquina usually concerns selecting five numbers from a larger pool. A correct five-number selection can yield a top prize or a significant payout, depending on the rules of the specific game. In other betting formats, the term is also used for wagers on the first five finishers of a race or competition, with variations that may require the order of finishing to be exact or allow any order among the five positions.

Outside of betting, cinquina can simply describe any quintet in ordinary usage, such as a group of five people, performers, or items. The term is most common in Italian-language contexts and discussions of Italian gambling culture. In English-language sources, cinquina is typically introduced with its Italian meaning and a brief explanation of its use in Italian lottery and betting practices.

Overall, cinquina denotes five-related concepts, ranging from a literal quintet to specific five-number bets within Italian gaming traditions.