Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| napoletano | /na.po.leˈta.no/ |
| partenopeo | /par.te.noˈpɛ.o/ |
The term refers to anything pertaining to the city of Naples. This includes the people who live there (as a noun) and the language spoken in the city (as a proper name).
Which one should you use?
While napoletano is the standard term, partenopeo is a more poetic or literary adjective used to refer to Naples.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Campania region, some locals may refer to Neapolitan as Nnapulitano.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes to agree in gender and number with the person or object being described. Use napoletana for a feminine singular subject and napoletane for a feminine plural subject. For a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural napoletani.
How do you pronounce it?
/na.po.leˈta.no/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The more literary adjective partenopeo links the city directly to the Greek myth of the siren Parthenope, whose body allegedly washed up on the nearby coast.
- The Neapolitan language napoletano has its own written standard and is recognized by UNESCO as a distinct language rather than a mere dialect of Italian.
- While napoletano is used for general things, the city's sports teams are frequently called partenopei to evoke a sense of ancient glory.
Examples in context
- Il mio amico è napoletano.My friend is Neapolitan.This sentence uses napoletano to identify a person's origin.Tatoeba #6612779 by Guybrush88, translation #7895031 by helloroto
- Dov'è che si parla napoletano?Where is Neapolitan spoken?This sentence uses napoletano to ask about the location where the language is spoken.Tatoeba #12164631 by ramen_icastico, translation #13063451 by JeanM
- La lingua napoletana è molto affascinanteThe Neapolitan language is very fascinating
- Il dialetto napoletano è radicato nella tradizione localeThe Neapolitan dialect is deeply rooted in the local tradition
- L'idioma napoletano ricorda le sue origini anticheThe Neapolitan language recalls its ancient origins
- Parlo napoletano con i miei amiciI speak Neapolitan with my friends
- Mi piace molto il dialetto napoletano.I really like the Neapolitan dialect.
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are discussing a trip to Southern Italy.
- GiuliaHai mai visitato il centro napoletano?Have you ever visited the Neapolitan center?
- AlessandroSì, ci sono stato l'anno scorso.Yes, I was there last year.
- GiuliaTi è piaciuta l'atmosfera della città?Did you like the city's atmosphere?
- AlessandroSì, è un posto davvero magico.Yes, it is a truly magical place.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “neapolitan” translations and entries napoletano, partenopeo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries napoletano, partenopeo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
