signore
/siɲˈɲo.re/
In Italian, 'ladies' is translated as signore.
signore is used as a polite way to address or refer to a group of women.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of this word is signora.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of signore is /siɲˈɲo.re/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using signori when you intend to address a group of women. While it may seem similar, signori is the masculine plural and means 'gentlemen' or 'lords'.
Did you know?
- The word signore shares a distant Proto-Indo-European root with the English word 'senile'. While one denotes respect and the other decline, both stem from the root for 'old'.
- In Italy, calling a woman signora is not just about politeness but often signals a social boundary. Using it for a very young woman can sometimes be perceived as an ironic or distancing gesture.
- In traditional Italian etiquette, the phrase signore e signori follows a strict order. The ladies are almost always mentioned before the gentlemen in formal introductions.
Examples in context
- Buonasera, signore e signori.Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use signore in a formal greeting alongside 'gentlemen'.Tatoeba #7837636 by supercoolbeas30, translation #1597893 by fanty
- Quelle signore sono le mie zie.These ladies are my aunts.This sentence demonstrates using signore to identify a specific group of women.Tatoeba #3535123 by Guybrush88, translation #463132 by lukaszpp
- Quelle signore parlano francese?Do those ladies speak French?This sentence shows how to use signore when asking a question about a group of women.Tatoeba #6453854 by Guybrush88, translation #6439017 by CK
- Buongiorno a tutte le donne presentiGood morning to all the ladies present
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro is welcoming guests to a dinner party.
- GiuliaBenvenute a casa, signore!Welcome home, ladies!
- AlessandroGrazie mille, Giulia.Thank you very much, Giulia.
- GiuliaPrego, entrate pure.You're welcome, please come in.
- AlessandroSiete molto gentile.You are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry signore, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
