Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| montagna | /monˈtaɲ.ɲa/ | feminine |
| monte | /ˈmon.te/ | masculine |
Both terms refer to a large mass of earth and rock, but they are used in different contexts depending on whether you are discussing a general environment or a specific geological feature.
Which one should you use?
Use montagna when referring to the general concept of the mountain environment, the landscape or the mountain region (such as when saying you are 'going to the mountains'). Use monte when referring to a specific, individual mountain or a single geological peak.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sicilian dialect, muntagna is used as an alternative to the standard montagna.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine montagna has the plural form montagne, while the masculine monte has the plural form monti.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /monˈtaɲ.ɲa/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The term Monte appears in the name of the famous Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which is one of the oldest banks in the world. This uses the word in its financial sense of a 'public debt fund' rather than a geographical feature.
- In Italian, the expression fare una montagna di… is used to describe an overwhelming amount of something, like a 'mountain' of paperwork or laundry.
- The word monte is often used in the names of religious hills or shrines, such as Monte Santo, even if the geography is more of a hill than a mountain.
Examples in context
- Ti piace la montagna?Do you like the mountain?This sentence shows how to ask if someone likes the mountains using montagna.Tatoeba #2839731 by Guybrush88, translation #3637932 by MTC
- C'è neve sulla montagna.There is snow on the mountain.This sentence describes snow being on the mountain using montagna.Tatoeba #6992624 by Guybrush88, translation #1562150 by CM
- Quant'è alta la montagna?How high is the mountain?This sentence asks about the height of a mountain using montagna.Tatoeba #1687436 by Guybrush88, translation #47719 by CK
- Le Alpi sono una catena di montagne molto famose in Italia.The Alps are a very famous mountain range in Italy.
- Il Monte Bianco è la montagna più alta delle Alpi.Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps.
- Oggi andiamo a fare una passeggiata sulla montagnetta dietro casa.Today we're going for a walk on the little mountain behind our house.
- 184 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are looking at a landscape from a balcony.
- MatteoGuarda quella montagna lontana.Look at that distant mountain.
- ChiaraÈ davvero bellissima.It is truly beautiful.
- MatteoVorrei scalare la montagna domani.I would like to climb the mountain tomorrow.
- ChiaraSarebbe un'avventura fantastica.It would be a fantastic adventure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mountain” translations and entries montagna, monte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
