cattedrale
/kat.teˈdra.le/feminine
The English word 'cathedral' is translated into Italian as cattedrale or duomo.
Meaning: big church building (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cattedrale | /kat.teˈdra.le/ | feminine |
| duomo | /ˈdwɔ.mo/ | masculine |
While cattedrale is the technical term for a cathedral, the word concattedrale is used specifically to distinguish a secondary or co-cathedral.
Which one should you use?
cattedrale is the technical term for a cathedral, whereas duomo is the much more common word used by Italians to refer to the cathedral of a city. Furthermore, in many Italian cities, the specific name of the local cathedral is simply referred to as il Duomo, such as il Duomo di Milano.
How does it change in a sentence?
cattedrale is a feminine noun. Its plural form is cattedrali. duomo is a masculine noun. Its plural form is duomi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word cattedrale is pronounced /kat.teˈdra.le/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word duomo has two separate origins. While one path leads back to the Latin word for 'house', the other comes from the French word dôme, meaning 'dome'.
- In Italy, the 'Duomo' is often the focal point of the city center, and the main square surrounding it is frequently called the Piazza del Duomo regardless of the city's name.
- The term concattedrale allows a city to have a 'co-cathedral', which means two different churches in a region can share the status of being the bishop's seat.
Examples in context
- Questa è una cattedrale.This is a cathedral.This sentence is useful for identifying a cathedral using cattedrale.Tatoeba #13956897 by Guybrush88, translation #9292380 by Nylez
- Mary è nella cattedrale.Mary is in the cathedral.This sentence shows the location of a person inside the cathedral using cattedrale.Tatoeba #13956898 by Guybrush88, translation #9574553 by kby
- C'era una cattedrale qui.There used to be a cathedral here.This sentence describes the past existence of a cathedral using cattedrale.Tatoeba #13956961 by Guybrush88, translation #10893231 by megamanenm
- La cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore è un'icona di Firenze.The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is an icon of Florence.
- Vado a visitare il duomo di Milano domani.I'm going to visit the cathedral of Milan tomorrow.
- Il duomo di Firenze è assolutamente da vedere.The cathedral of Florence is an absolute must-see.
- La città di Molfetta possiede una concattedrale molto affascinante.The city of Molfetta has a very charming concathedral.
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are planning a walking tour.
- ChiaraDove si trova la cattedrale?Where is the cathedral located?
- FrancescoLa cattedrale è vicino al centro.The cathedral is near the center.
- ChiaraPossiamo andarci a piedi, Francesco?Can we go there on foot, Francesco?
- FrancescoSì, è una passeggiata molto breve.Yes, it is a very short walk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cathedral” translations and entries cattedrale, duomo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cattedrale, duomo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
