sosia
/ˈsɔ.sja/masculine
The English word "doppelganger" is translated into Italian as sosia.
sosia is a masculine noun used to describe a person who looks remarkably similar to another, effectively acting as their double.
Meaning: remarkably similar double (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
sosia is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable: /ˈsɔ.sja/.
Did you know?
- While 'doppelganger' in English often carries a spooky or supernatural connotation of a ghostly double, the Italian sosia is typically a neutral term used for lookalikes or celebrities who resemble one another.
- The word sosia actually traces its origins back to a specific character named Sosia from a play written by the Roman playwright Plautus over 2,000 years ago.
- Even if the lookalike is a woman, the word sosia remains masculine because it is derived from a man's proper name.
Examples in context
- Ho appena visto la mia sosia per la strada!I just saw my doppelgänger on the street!
- È il mio sosia.He is my doppelganger.
- Ho visto un sosia di un attore famoso.I saw a doppelganger of a famous actor.
- Quel ragazzo è il sosia di mio fratello.That boy is my brother's doppelganger.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Giulia are looking at a photo in a magazine.
- AlessandroGuarda questo modello, è il sosia di Marco!Look at this model, he is Marco's doppelganger!
- GiuliaDavvero? Sono quasi identici.Really? They are almost identical.
- AlessandroSì, è un sosia incredibile.Yes, he is an incredible doppelganger.
- GiuliaMarco si sentirebbe molto offeso.Marco would feel very offended.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “doppelganger” translations and entries sosia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sosia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
