signore
/siɲˈɲo.re/masculine
In Italian, the word for mister is signore.
Signore is the most common and widely used term for 'mister' in Italian. It is a masculine noun used to address or refer to an adult male.
Meaning: title of adult male (noun)
Which one should you use?
The form signore is used as a standalone vocative, such as when you say 'Good morning, sir'. However, when you are using the word as a title directly before a surname, you should use the truncated form signor instead of signore.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Lombardy region of Italy, it is common to use the variations Sior or Siori instead of signore.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a title directly before a surname, the form signore is truncated to signor. The feminine counterpart to signore is signora.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of signore is /siɲˈɲo.re/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- While signore is used for 'mister', the word mister is actually used in Italy as a loanword to refer specifically to a sports coach.
- In a religious context, Signore with a capital letter is the primary word used to address God.
- Using signore to address someone is a sign of respect, but overusing it with a peer can sometimes be perceived as ironic or sarcastic.
Examples in context
- Signore, ha visto il signor Cyrano?Mister, have you seen Mr. Cyrano?This sentence shows how to use signore when addressing someone directly.Tatoeba #13353504 by Guybrush88, translation #2887809 by Scott
- Il signore alla porta è molto gentile.The gentleman at the door is very kind.
- Ho parlato con quel signore ieri.I spoke with that gentleman yesterday.
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are at a cafe.
- FrancescoGuarda quel signore, sembra molto arrabbiato.Look at that gentleman, he looks very angry.
- GiuliaSì, è vero, sembra molto nervoso.Yes, it's true, he looks very nervous.
- FrancescoForse il signore ha avuto una brutta giornata.Perhaps the gentleman had a bad day.
- GiuliaSpero che si senta meglio presto.I hope he feels better soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mister” translations and entries signore, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
