Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tipo | /ˈti.po/ | masculine |
| tizio | /ˈtit.t͡sjo/ | masculine |
tipo is an informal and colloquial term used to mean guy or dude. It is also frequently used to describe a person's character or 'type', such as a cool guy or a strange guy.
Which one should you use?
While both tipo and tizio can mean guy, they are used in different contexts. tizio is often used to refer to a specific, often unknown or unimportant man, similar to saying 'some guy' or 'that fellow'. In contrast, tipo is more often used to describe a person's character or 'type'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of tipo is tipa, which is an informal way to say girl, woman or chick.
How do you pronounce it?
The word tipo is pronounced /ˈti.po/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should note that tipo means both 'guy' and 'type' in Italian, just as it does in English.
Did you know?
- The word tipo shares a root with the Greek word for 'striking' or 'beating'. It originally referred to a 'mark' or 'figure' left by a blow before it meant a 'type' of person.
- In Italian, tizio is often part of a rhythmic trio of placeholder names: tizio, caio and sempronio. This is similar to the English expression 'Tom, Dick and Harry'.
- Unlike 'guy' in English, which is often used as a collective plural to address a mixed-gender group, tipo and tizio are strictly used for males in the singular.
Examples in context
- Chi è quel tipo?Who is that guy?This sentence is useful for asking about a specific tipo.Tatoeba #3587489 by Guybrush88, translation #2270205 by _undertoad
- È un tipo ricco.He's a rich guy.This sentence is useful for describing a person's wealth using tipo.Tatoeba #10788154 by Guybrush88, translation #8480024 by CH
- È un tipo strano.He's a weird guy.This sentence is useful for describing someone's character using tipo.Tatoeba #2486262 by Guybrush88, translation #1341215 by CK
- Ho incontrato un ragazzo molto gentile oggi.I met a very polite guy today.
- Il ragazzo che lavora nel negozio è molto professionale.The guy who works in the store is very professional.
- Quel tipo è davvero simpatico!That guy is really nice!
- 430 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are talking about a new colleague.
- LorenzoHai conosciuto il nuovo tipo in ufficio?Have you met the new guy in the office?
- MartinaSì, sembra un tipo molto simpatico.Yes, he seems like a very nice guy.
- LorenzoDice che quel tipo parla tre lingue.They say that guy speaks three languages.
- MartinaDavvero? È un tipo interessante!Really? He's an interesting guy!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guy” translations and entries tipo, tizio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tipo, tizio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
