How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective gentile is invariant for gender, meaning the singular form remains the same for both masculine and feminine subjects. To describe multiple people, use the plural form gentili, which also works for both masculine and feminine plural subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /dʒenˈti.le/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid confusing the Italian gentile (which means kind or polite) with the English word 'gentle' (meaning soft or mild). In Italian, if you want to say 'gentle' in the sense of being soft or delicate, use delicato instead.
When do people say it?
To express profound gratitude for someone's kindness, you can say ti ringrazio di cuore, which means 'thank you from the bottom of my heart.'
Did you know?
- The word gentile shares its roots with the Latin term for 'pagan' or 'heathen'.
- The word gentile is closely linked to the concept of 'nobility' through its Latin root gens, meaning 'clan' or 'family'.
- To describe a 'kind of' something, such as 'a kind of fruit', Italians use the word tipo or sorta instead of gentile.
Examples in context
- È gentile con te?Is he kind to you?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is kind to a specific person.Tatoeba #3164764 by Guybrush88, translation #295624 by CK
- È gentile con me.He's kind to me.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is kind to the speaker.Tatoeba #5588598 by Guybrush88, translation #391578 by CK
- È gentile con lei.He is kind to her.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is kind to a third party.Tatoeba #1258295 by Guybrush88, translation #297660 by CK
- Era molto amabile con gli invitati alla conferenza.He/she was very kind to the conference attendees.
- Sei stato molto gentile ad aiutarmi.You were very kind to help me.
- È stato/a molto carino/a da parte tua.It was very kind of you.
- Sei un vero amico. Grazie per il tuo aiuto.You are a true friend. Thank you for your help.
- Mi colpisce sempre la tua gentilezza.Your kindness always impresses me.
- 293 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are talking about a new coworker.
- MartinaIl nuovo collega è molto gentile.The new colleague is very kind.
- LorenzoSì, mi ha aiutato molto oggi.Yes, he helped me a lot today.
- MartinaÈ raro trovare persone così gentili.It is rare to find such kind people.
- LorenzoHai ragione, Martina.You are right, Martina.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gentile, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gentile, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
