impiegato
/im.pjeˈɡa.to/masculine
The Italian word for clerk is impiegato.
impiegato is used for a clerk in a professional setting, such as an office or an administrative role. It is the standard general term for an office employee and is often used to describe civil servants or government employees, known as an impiegato statale. While it refers to clerical workers, it is distinct from operaio, which is used for a manual laborer.
Meaning: one working with records etc. (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun changes based on gender and number: impiegata is the feminine form used for a female clerk, impiegati is the masculine plural used for a group of men or a mixed group and impiegate is the feminine plural used for a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable: /im.pjeˈɡa.to/.
When do people say it?
When interacting with a clerk, using scusi is a polite way to initiate a request or ask a question.
Did you know?
- The phrase impiegato can also describe something that is 'occupied' or 'busy', such as a telephone line that is currently in use.
- In Italy, if you call a shop assistant an impiegato, they might take offense because it implies they work in a desk-bound office rather than a retail space.
- In Italy, the distinction between an impiegato and an operaio is not just about the job but often defines a person's social class and labor union rights.
Examples in context
- È un impiegato di banca.He is a bank clerk.This sentence is useful for describing someone's profession as a bank clerk.Tatoeba #11033643 by Guybrush88, translation #295559 by CK
- Sono un impiegato di banca.I'm a bank clerk.This sentence is useful for stating your own profession as a bank clerk.Tatoeba #11033641 by Guybrush88, translation #256984 by CK
- Sposò un impiegato bancario.She married a bank clerk.This sentence is useful for describing a person who married a bank clerk.Tatoeba #7158343 by Guybrush88, translation #313336 by CK
- Buongiorno, vorrei parlare con il commesso per scambiare un articolo.Good morning, I would like to speak with the clerk to exchange an item.
- Ho bisogno di parlare urgentemente con l'impiegato nella sezione contabile.I need to urgently speak with the clerk in the accounting department.
- Scusa, commessa, sai dove posso trovare i pantaloni?Excuse me, clerk, do you know where I can find the pants?
- Posso chiedere al ragazzo addetto alle vendite se possono ordinarlo per me?Can I ask the sales clerk if they can order it for me?
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are talking about his professional life.
- GiuliaLavori come impiegato?Do you work as a clerk?
- LorenzoSì, sono un impiegato statale.Yes, I am a government clerk.
- GiuliaÈ un lavoro interessante?Is it an interesting job?
- LorenzoÈ un po' noioso, ma tranquillo.It is a bit boring, but quiet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clerk” translations and entries impiegato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
