Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| umanità | /u.ma.niˈta/ | feminine |
| genere umano |
The word umanità is the most common and versatile term for 'mankind' in Italian, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is often used in a more abstract or philosophical sense, referring to the collective human race or the quality of being human.
Which one should you use?
While both terms mean mankind, umanità is often used in a more abstract or philosophical sense. In contrast, genere umano is more frequently used in scientific, biological or anthropological contexts to refer to the human species.
How does it change in a sentence?
umanità is a feminine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must also be in the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word umanità is pronounced /u.ma.niˈta/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The word umanità describes both the entire human race and the quality of being kind or compassionate. An Italian speaker might say someone has umanità to mean they are a deeply empathetic person.
- In a religious context, instead of saying l'umanità, one might use il creato (the creation) to refer to all mankind and the living world. This emphasizes the relationship between humans and the divine.
- If you want to speak about 'the human race' in a poetic way, you might use la stirpe umana. The word stirpe carries a connotation of lineage, bloodline, and ancient ancestry.
Examples in context
- Una guerra nucleare porterà alla distruzione dell'umanità.A nuclear war will bring about the destruction of mankind.Tatoeba #8691991 by Guybrush88, translation #21727 by CM
- La penicillina ha contribuito molto al benessere del genere umano.Penicillin has contributed much to the welfare of mankind.Tatoeba #4978525 by Guybrush88, translation #33919 by CM
- Zamenhof, l'iniziatore dell'esperanto, è un benefattore dell'umanità!Zamenhof, the initiator of Esperanto, is a benefactor of mankind!Tatoeba #13382674 by Guybrush88, translation #12258703 by Miktsoanit
- Le origini e l'evoluzione del genere umano sono oggetto di grande interesse per gli scienziati.The origins and evolution of mankind are a subject of great interest to scientists.
- Dovremmo lavorare per un futuro in cui l'umanità intera viva in armonia.We should strive for a future where the whole of mankind lives in harmony.
- Il benessere di tutta l'umanità è una responsabilità condivisa.The well-being of all of mankind is our shared responsibility.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new scientific discovery in a café.
- LorenzoQuesta scoperta cambierà il futuro dell'umanità.This discovery will change the future of mankind.
- MartinaSpero che porti solo progresso per tutti noi.I hope it brings only progress for all of us.
- LorenzoSì, Martina, è un momento storico per noi.Yes, Martina, it is a historic moment for us.
- MartinaHai ragione, Lorenzo, è davvero incredibile.You're right, Lorenzo, it is truly incredible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mankind” translations and entries umanità, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
