palazzo
/paˈlat.t͡so/masculine
The Italian word for palace is palazzo.
palazzo refers to a large, lavish residence. It is used for official government buildings as well as the residential structures of important families. In common Italian usage, palazzo is also used to describe any large, grand apartment building or city block.
Meaning: large, lavish residence (noun)
Which one should you use?
While palazzo is the common term for a royal palace or a large building, you can use the formal term residenza to refer to a residence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tuscany, the term palazzotto is used to describe smaller, elegant palaces. The plural form of this regional term is palazzotti.
How does it change in a sentence?
palazzo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
palazzo is pronounced /paˈlat.tso/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The Italian government is often referred to simply as il Palazzo, using the building as a metonym for political power.
- The word palazzo is actually named after a specific location: the Palatine Hill in Rome. Because the emperors lived there, the name of the hill became the name for any grand residence.
- The term Palazzo is used in Italy to describe the specific architectural style of urban nobility houses that differs from the rural villa.
Examples in context
- Tom è al palazzo reale.Tom is at the royal palace.This sentence shows how to use palazzo in the context of a royal palace.Tatoeba #13472645 by Guybrush88, translation #13472636 by rul
- Benvenuto nel mio palazzo.Welcome to my palace.This sentence uses palazzo to refer to someone's home.Tatoeba #12255345 by Guybrush88, translation #12253827 by CK
- Perché il Papa vive in un palazzo?Why does the Pope live in a palace?This sentence uses palazzo to refer to the Pope's residence.Tatoeba #13213933 by Guybrush88, translation #11561193 by shekitten
- Il Palazzo Reale di Napoli è uno dei palazzi storici più affascinanti d'Italia.The Royal Palace of Naples is one of Italy's most fascinating historical palaces.
- Il castello era una volta una sontuosa residenza nobiliare.The castle was once a sumptuous noble residence.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are walking through a historic city center.
- GiuliaGuarda che bellissimo palazzo!Look at that beautiful palace!
- FrancescoSì, questo palazzo è molto antico.Yes, this palace is very ancient.
- GiuliaFrancesco, vuoi entrare nel palazzo?Francesco, do you want to enter the palace?
- FrancescoSì, entriamo subito.Yes, let's go in right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “palace” translations and entries palazzo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries palazzo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
