tesoro
/teˈzɔ.ro/
The English phrase 'babe' can be translated into Italian as tesoro.
tesoro is used as a term of endearment for a romantic partner or to refer to someone you find attractive, functioning much like the English 'babe' or 'darling'.
Meaning: attractive person (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word tesoro literally means 'treasure'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tesoro is an informal term of endearment typically used between lovers or close friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tesoro is tesori, which translates to 'treasures' or 'babes'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /teˈzɔ.ro/.
Did you know?
- The word tesoro shares an ancient root with the English word 'thesaurus', which originally referred to a storehouse of knowledge.
- In certain Italian dialects, particularly in parts of the south, you might hear people use tesoro to address even small children, not just romantic partners.
- The Italian word for 'treasure' is gender-neutral in its concept, but because tesoro is a masculine noun, you would use it even when speaking to a woman.
Examples in context
- Ciao, amore!Hi, babe!
- Buon compleanno, amore!Happy birthday, babe!
- Vieni qui, ciccino/ciccinaCome here, cutie!
- Mi manchi, caro!I miss you, babe!
- Sei speciale, carinaYou are special, babe!
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are admiring a photo.
- SofiaChi è questo ragazzo?Who is this guy?
- AlessandroÈ un mio amico, un vero tesoro.He is a friend of mine, a real babe.
- SofiaHai ragione, è molto bello.You are right, he is very handsome.
- AlessandroSì, piace a tutti.Yes, everyone likes him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tesoro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tesoro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
