Italian

American  

[ih-tal-yuhn] / ɪˈtæl yən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Italy, its people, or their language.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Italy, or a person of Italian descent.

2. a Romance language, the language of Italy, official also in Switzerland. It, It., Ital.

Italian British  

/ ɪˈtæljən /

noun

1. the official language of Italy and one of the official languages of Switzerland: the native language of approximately 60 million people. It belongs to the Romance group of the Indo-European family, and there is a considerable diversity of dialects

2. a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Italy, or a descendant of one

3. See Italian vermouth

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adjective

1. relating to, denoting, or characteristic of Italy, its inhabitants, or their language

Pronunciation

The pronunciation of Italian with an initial sound (pronounced like the word eye ) and often with level stress on the first and second syllables: is heard primarily from uneducated speakers. This pronunciation is sometimes facetious or disparaging in purpose and is usually considered offensive.

Other Word Forms

• Italianesque adjective
• anti-Italian adjective
• half-Italian adjective
• non-Italian adjective
• pro-Italian adjective
• pseudo-Italian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Italian

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word Italiānus. See Italy, -an

Compare meaning

How does italian compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Italian vs. English sonnet

Example Sentences

The Italian Competition Authority, or AGCM, said the selection of providers under the program appears to be largely driven by criteria that favor those paying higher commissions rather than the quality of what they offer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Christopher played Pirelli, the con-man barber with the fake Italian accent, and it was the first time that I can recall wishing that this flamboyant villain had a bigger part.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

According to the listing, the 22-foot-wide property marries “traditional English charm, modern Brooklyn sensibilities, and rich Italian influence.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Roberto Baggio scored 115 goals in 200 games at Juventus during an Italian era characterised by frugal defending.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

The little Balkan nation of Bulgaria, watching the Italian and Russian setbacks, threw in its lot with the Central Powers.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman