gran lavoratore
The English phrase 'hard worker' translates to Italian as gran lavoratore.
For more emphasis, you might use lavoratore instancabile to describe someone who works without tiring.
Meaning: Translations (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
gran lavoratore is a contraction of grande lavoratore, meaning 'great worker'. The form gran is a truncated version of grande used before a noun.
Which one should you use?
While gran lavoratore is a common way to say hard worker, lavoratore instancabile is a more emphatic way to describe someone who works without tiring.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female hard worker, change the masculine noun to the feminine gran lavoratrice.
Did you know?
- To describe someone who is a 'workaholic' in a negative sense, Italians might use stakanovista, referring to Alexey Stakhanov, a Soviet miner used in propaganda.
- In English, 'labour' is a formal word for work, but the root of lavoratore comes from the Latin labōrātōrem, which originally described the physical effort of suffering or hardship.
- To describe a hard worker in a more idiomatic or affectionate way, Italians often use the expression un asso, which literally translates to 'an ace'.
Examples in context
- Ho avuto il piacere di lavorare con Carlo, un collega davvero diligente e affidabile.I had the pleasure of working with Carlo, a truly diligent and dependable colleague.
- Marco è un gran lavoratore.Marco is a hard worker.
- Cerchiamo un gran lavoratore per l'ufficio.We are looking for a hard worker for the office.
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are discussing a new colleague.
- GiuliaHai conosciuto il nuovo collega, Matteo?Have you met the new colleague, Matteo?
- MatteoSì, sembra un gran lavoratore.Yes, he seems like a hard worker.
- GiuliaÈ vero, ha già finito tutto il lavoro.It's true, he has already finished all the work.
- MatteoSarà un ottimo aiuto per noi.He will be a great help for us.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lavoratore, CC BY-SA 4.0.
