film
/ˈfilm/
The English phrase "movies" is translated into Italian as film.
film refers to stories told through moving images and sound shown on a screen or in a cinema.
Which one should you use?
While film is the standard term used for movies, cinema is often used when referring to the medium itself or the general experience of watching movies.
How does it change in a sentence?
film is an invariable noun, which means it does not change its spelling when it becomes plural. To express "the movies," you simply use the plural article i to create i film.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfilm/
Did you know?
- Italian cinema history is defined by Neorealismo, a movement after World War II that used non-professional actors and real locations to show the struggle of the poor.
- When talking about a 'movie star', Italians use diva for women, a term that implies a high level of prestige and an untouchable persona.
- Although the word film is borrowed from English, an Italian speaker might refer to a movie as a pellicola, which literally translates to 'film strip' or 'celluloid'.
Examples in context
- Io amo i film.I love movies.This sentence shows how to express a love for film.Tatoeba #2088231 by Guybrush88, translation #521657 by CK
- Lui adora i film.He adores the movies.This sentence shows how to express an adoration for film.Tatoeba #634372 by Guybrush88, translation #293908 by AlanF_US
- Odio i film muti.I hate silent movies.This sentence is useful for discussing how to say "silent movies" using film.Tatoeba #4159230 by Guybrush88, translation #2665328 by meerkat
- Mi piace andare al cinema il sabato sera.I enjoy going to the movies on Saturday evenings.
- Hai visto l'ultimo film di Almodóvar?Have you seen the latest Almodóvar movie?
- Ho studiato le tecniche di montaggio della pellicola nella mia università.I studied celluloid film editing techniques at my university.
- Ho trovato un filmato divertente su YouTube.I found a funny movie clip on YouTube.
- 315 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are deciding what to watch at home.
- LorenzoVuoi guardare dei film stasera?Do you want to watch some movies tonight?
- GiuliaSì, ma non ho voglia di film horror.Yes, but I am not in the mood for horror movies.
- LorenzoAllora cerchiamo dei film d'azione.Then let's look for some action movies.
- GiuliaOttima idea, Lorenzo.Great idea, Lorenzo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry film, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
