Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| contabilità | /kon.ta.bi.liˈta/ | feminine |
| bilancio | /biˈlan.t͡ʃo/ | masculine |
In Italian, the term for the development and maintenance of systems for recording and analyzing financial transactions is contabilità. When referring specifically to the accounting department within a company, the standard phrase is ufficio contabilità. Additionally, the word contabile can be used as an adjective to describe things related to accounting, such as registri contabili (accounting ledgers).
Which one should you use?
Use contabilità when referring to the professional field, the occupation or the systematic process of bookkeeping.
How does it change in a sentence?
contabilità is a feminine noun. The related term bilancio is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
contabilità is pronounced /kon.ta.bi.liˈta/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 5th syllable.
Did you know?
- The word bilancio is frequently used metaphorically in Italian to 'sum up' or evaluate an experience, such as fare un bilancio dell'anno to review the year.
- The term contabilità shares a root with contare, which means both 'to count' and 'to matter' or 'to be important'.
- The Italian term for 'double-entry bookkeeping' is partita doppia, which literally translates to 'double part' or 'double share'.
Examples in context
- La contabilità è fondamentale per il corretto funzionamento di un'azienda.Accounting is essential for the proper functioning of a company.
- I bilanci trimestrali devono essere preparati entro la fine del mese.The quarterly balance sheets must be prepared by the end of the month.
- La contabilità della società è molto precisa.The company's accounting is very precise.
- Lavora nel settore della contabilità.She works in the accounting sector.
- Devo controllare la contabilità di questo mese.I need to check this month's accounting.
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are discussing their work tasks.
- MatteoMartina, hai finito la contabilità del mese?Martina, have you finished the accounting for the month?
- MartinaNon ancora, mancano alcune fatture.Not yet, some invoices are missing.
- MatteoPosso aiutarti con i calcoli?Can I help you with the calculations?
- MartinaSì, grazie, Matteo, sarebbe molto utile.Yes, thanks, Matteo, that would be very helpful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accounting” translations and entries contabilità, bilancio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
