dio
/ˈdi.o/masculine
The Italian word for 'God' is dio.
dio is a masculine noun used to refer to a deity. It is also frequently used in the common exclamation Dio mio!, which means 'My God!' and is used to express surprise, fear or frustration.
Meaning: deity (noun)
Which one should you use?
The spelling remains the same for different meanings, but capitalization signals the intent: use the capitalized Dio when referring to the specific deity of monotheistic religions or the single male deity of duotheism. Use the lowercase dio when referring to a general deity.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term Babbo is an informal way to refer to God used in parts of Central Italy, especially Tuscany.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of dio is dei.
Did you know?
- While Dio mio! is a common exclamation, using dio in certain colloquial phrases can be considered a 'bestemmia' or blasphemy, which is a specific legal and social category of offense in Italy.
- The Italian word dio shares an ancient root with the English word 'day' because both originally referred to the 'sky' or 'shining' light of the heavens.
- The word divino derives from the same root as dio and is frequently used in Italian to describe food or art that is exceptionally good, regardless of any religious context.
Examples in context
- Non è un dio.You're not a god.This sentence shows how to use dio to deny someone's status as a god.Tatoeba #6444856 by Guybrush88, translation #2549175 by CK
- Dio è con noi.God is with us.This sentence uses dio to express that God is with us.Tatoeba #13437370 by Guybrush88, translation #13437294 by rul
- Solo Dio lo sa.Only God knows.This sentence uses dio in an expression about God knowing something.Tatoeba #2520299 by Guybrush88, translation #269633 by Eldad
- Credo in Dio.I believe in God.
- Il potere di Dio è infinito.The power of God is infinite.
- Ti preghiamo, Signore, ascoltaci.We pray to you, Lord, listen to us.
- Il Signore ci guarda dal cielo.The Lord watches over us from heaven.
- Padre Eterno, guidami nel cammino della vita.Eternal Father, guide me on the path of life.
- Ringraziamo il Padre Eterno per la sua misericordia.We thank the Eternal Father for his mercy.
- 678 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are discussing an ancient Greek statue.
- MartinaQuale dio rappresenta questa statua?Which god does this statue represent?
- AlessandroPenso che sia il dio del mare.I think it is the god of the sea.
- MartinaQuindi è Poseidone?So it is Poseidon?
- AlessandroSì, è proprio lui.Yes, it is definitely him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “God” translations and entries dio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
