Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| meretrice | /me.reˈtri.t͡ʃe/ | feminine |
| baldracca | /balˈdrak.ka/ | |
| puttana | /putˈta.na/ | feminine |
All provided forms refer to a female prostitute. While meretrice is a formal term referring to a female sex worker, the other forms are much more offensive.
Which one should you use?
The terms differ significantly in tone and impact. meretrice is a formal or literary term for a prostitute. In contrast, puttana is a common, vulgar and highly offensive term used in everyday speech. baldracca is a vulgar, archaic-sounding slang term for a prostitute.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
meretrice and cortigiana are formal terms. puttana is common, vulgar and highly offensive. baldracca is also vulgar slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of meretrice is /me.reˈtri.tʃe/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
When do people say it?
puttana is frequently used as a generic swear word or insult directed at women, regardless of their profession.
Did you know?
- The vulgar term baldracca is actually a geographical reference to Baghdad, which was known in ancient times as 'Baldacca'.
- While meretrice is the formal term, the word cortigiana was historically used for high-class courtesans who were intellectuals and patrons of the arts.
- In modern Italian, puttana is often used as an interjection of frustration or anger, similar to how English speakers use 'damn' or 'shit', without referring to any person.
Examples in context
- Lei è una meretrice.She is a harlot.This sentence is useful for identifying a woman as a meretrice.Tatoeba #2161222 by Guybrush88, translation #2161195 by Manfredo
- Quella donna era una meretrice.That woman was a harlot.
- Il libro parla di una meretrice.The book speaks of a harlot.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are discussing a character in a historical novel.
- SofiaLa protagonista è una meretrice.The protagonist is a harlot.
- LorenzoÈ un personaggio molto complesso.She is a very complex character.
- SofiaSì, la sua vita è difficile.Yes, her life is difficult.
- LorenzoDavvero, Sofia, è molto triste.Truly, Sofia, it is very sad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “harlot” translations and entries meretrice, baldracca, puttana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baldracca, meretrice, puttana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
