contessa
/konˈtes.sa/feminine
The English word "countess" is translated into Italian as contessa.
contessa is a feminine noun used to refer to the wife of a count or earl.
Meaning: wife of a count or earl (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of contessa is contesse.
How do you pronounce it?
/konˈtes.sa/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- While 'countess' in English is often used in high-fantasy literature, calling someone a contessa in modern Italian can sometimes be a playful or sarcastic way to describe a woman who is acting overly snobbish.
- The word contessa comes from the Medieval Latin comitissa, which is the feminine form of 'comes', meaning 'companion'.
- Unlike the English 'countess', which is strictly feminine, the root conte in Italian historically referred to a governor of a province appointed by the emperor.
Examples in context
- Non sono una contessa.I'm not a countess.Tatoeba #5628375 by dnnywld, translation #10792897 by ddnktr
- La Contessa è una donna molto rispettata nella società italiana.The countess is a highly respected woman in Italian society.
- Ho avuto l'opportunità di incontrare la Contessa ieri sera.I had the opportunity to meet the countess last night.
- La contessa vive in un palazzo antico.The countess lives in an ancient palace.
- Ho incontrato la contessa durante il ballo.I met the countess during the ball.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Giulia are discussing a historical novel.
- AlessandroChi è la protagonista di questo libro?Who is the protagonist of this book?
- GiuliaÈ una contessa molto nobile e ricca.She is a very noble and wealthy countess.
- AlessandroGiulia, conosci la sua storia?Giulia, do you know her story?
- GiuliaSì, è una storia davvero affascinante.Yes, it is a truly fascinating story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “countess” translations and entries contessa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contessa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
