Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| commemorazione | /kom.me.mo.ratˈt͡sjo.ne/ | feminine |
| ricordo | /riˈkɔr.do/ | masculine |
| memoria | /meˈmɔ.rja/ | feminine |
| rievocazione | /ri.e.vo.katˈt͡sjo.ne/ | feminine |
Depending on the context, you may use different words to express the act of commemorating. You can refer to a formal ceremony, a general sense of remembrance, the concept of memory or even the specific act of re-enacting a historical event.
Which one should you use?
Use commemorazione for official ceremonies or solemn acts of commemoration. Use ricordo when referring to the act of remembering someone or something, or to a token of remembrance. Use memoria when referring to the concept of memory or a memorial dedicated to a person or event. Use rievocazione specifically for the act of re-enacting or vividly recalling a past event, such as a historical re-enactment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of commemorazione is commemorazioni. The plural of ricordo is ricordi. The plural of rievocazione is rievocazioni.
How do you pronounce it?
/kom.me.mo.ratˈtsjo.ne/
Did you know?
- A ricordo can be a memory, but it is also the standard word for a 'souvenir' bought during a trip, blending the idea of a commemoration with a physical object.
- In Italy, the term rievocazione is frequently used for 'rievocazioni storiche', which are elaborate town-wide festivals where citizens dress in period costumes to re-enact medieval battles.
- The Italian word memoria is used in the phrase a memoria, which means 'by heart' or 'from memory'.
Examples in context
- La cerimonia sarà una solenne commemorazione di coloro che hanno sacrificato la loro vita per il nostro paese.The ceremony will be a solemn commemoration of those who sacrificed their lives for our country.
- La commemorazione è stata molto solenne.The commemoration was very solemn.
- Partecipiamo alla commemorazione in centro.We are participating in the commemoration downtown.
- Organizziamo una commemorazione per i caduti.We are organizing a commemoration for the fallen.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are talking about a local event.
- LorenzoGiulia, andrai alla commemorazione domani?Giulia, will you go to the commemoration tomorrow?
- GiuliaSì, vorrei onorare la sua memoria.Yes, I would like to honor his memory.
- LorenzoÈ una commemorazione molto importante per la città.It is a very important commemoration for the city.
- GiuliaHai ragione, Lorenzo.You are right, Lorenzo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “commemoration” translations and entries commemorazione, ricordo, memoria, rievocazione, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
