monastero
/mo.nasˈtɛ.ro/masculine
The English word monastery is translated into Italian as monastero. If unsure, use monastero. Wiktionary also lists certosa.
Meaning: building for monks (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| monastero | /mo.nasˈtɛ.ro/ | masculine |
| certosa | feminine |
The term is used to describe a building where monks live.
Which one should you use?
monastero is a general term for any monastery, whereas certosa specifically refers to a charterhouse, which is a monastery belonging to the Carthusian order.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions of Italy, such as Tuscany, the term badia is used to refer to a monastery.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun monastero becomes monasteri in its plural form.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word clausura refers to the physical walls of a monastero and the state of being secluded from the outside world.
- The term badia comes from the word abate, meaning 'abbot', and is frequently used in Italy to describe monasteries that served as the head of a monastic district.
- While monastero is the general term, a certosa is often characterized by its unique architecture where monks have individual houses with small gardens rather than shared dormitories.
Examples in context
- Il monaco è nel monastero.The monk is in the monastery.The sentence is useful for showing the location of a monk using monastero.Tatoeba #10150104 by Guybrush88, translation #10101641 by ddnktr
- Questi monaci vivono dentro il monastero.These monks live inside the monastery.The sentence is useful for describing monks living inside the monastero.Tatoeba #3409669 by Guybrush88, translation #2334971 by Hybrid
- In Italia, il monastero medievale è un luogo d'interesse storico.In Italy, the medieval monastery is a place of historical interest.
- Ho visitato il convento sulla collina, dove le suore hanno una splendida vista.I visited the convent on the hill, where the nuns have a splendid view.
- La badia di San Galgano è uno dei siti storici più affascinanti della Toscana.The abbey of San Galgano is one of the most fascinating historical sites in Tuscany.
- La Certosa di Pavia è un esempio meraviglioso dell'architettura monastica del Rinascimento italiano.The Certosa of Pavia is a marvelous example of Italian Renaissance monastic architecture.
- Il vecchio monastero è sulla collina.The old monastery is on the hill.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a weekend trip in the countryside.
- AlessandroConosci quel monastero vicino al fiume?Do you know that monastery near the river?
- MartinaSì, è un posto bellissimo.Yes, it is a beautiful place.
- AlessandroPossiamo visitarlo sabato?Can we visit it on Saturday?
- MartinaCertamente, andiamo!Certainly, let's go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monastery” translations and entries monastero, certosa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
