Which one should you use?
You may use Egregio Signore (which translates to "Dear Sir" or "Excellent Sir") for extremely formal or professional correspondence, such as legal or official letters. Illustre Signore can also be used to mean "Illustrious Sir" or "Eminent Sir". If you are addressing a woman instead of a man, use Gentile Signora (Dear Madam).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Gentile Signore is a formal salutation. For even higher levels of professional or legal formality, use Egregio Signore.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a group of men or a generic company or department, use the plural form Gentili Signori (Dear Sirs).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of Gentile Signore is /dʒenˈti.le siɲˈɲo.re/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Caro Signore as a formal salutation. The word Caro implies a level of personal intimacy or affection that is inappropriate for professional business letters.
Did you know?
- The adjective gentile describes a person's temperament, whereas in English, the word 'gentile' is almost exclusively used to describe someone who is not Jewish.
- The word gentile in modern Italian means 'kind', but its Latin root gentīlis actually referred to someone who was 'pagan' or 'heathen'.
- If you are writing to someone with a professional title like an engineer or lawyer, you would replace Signore with their title, such as Gentile Ingegnere.
Examples in context
- Gentile Signore, vorrei un'informazione.Dear sir, I would like some information.
Example conversation
Matteo asks Chiara for help with a formal letter.
- MatteoCome inizio questa email? Gentile Signore?How should I start this email? Dear Sir?
- ChiaraSì, Gentile Signore è perfetto per un cliente.Yes, 'Gentile Signore' is perfect for a client.
- MatteoGrazie, Chiara. Ora scrivo il resto.Thanks, Chiara. Now I'll write the rest.
- ChiaraPrego, Matteo. Fammi vedere quando hai finito.You're welcome, Matteo. Let me see it when you're finished.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (gentile, signore) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gentile, signore, CC BY-SA 4.0.
