amante
/aˈman.te/feminine, masculine
The Italian word for paramour is amante. Wiktionary also lists madama.
Meaning: person with whom one has an illicit or secret affair, one with whom a married person has an adulterous affair (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amante | /aˈman.te/ | feminine, masculine |
| madama | /maˈda.ma/ | feminine |
The term amante refers to a person with whom someone has a secret or illicit affair, such as a person with whom a married person is having an adulterous relationship. However, it is also the standard word for a romantic lover in a committed relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
amante is an epicene noun, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine subjects. The plural form is amanti.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /aˈman.te/.
Did you know?
- The word for a paramour, madama, actually originates from a specific police headquarters in Turin called Palazzo Madama. During the mid-19th century, the term began to be used to describe someone involved in an illicit affair.
- In traditional Italian opera and literature, an amante was often a 'courtly lover' defined by the agony of unrequited longing rather than a secret partner.
- While amante describes a paramour, the root verb amare is used universally for love toward partners, pets and family members.
Examples in context
- Questa è Giulia, la mia fiamma.This is Giulia, my paramour/flame.
- Lui ha un'amante segreta.He has a secret lover.
- La sua amante è una donna elegante.His paramour is an elegant woman.
- Ha incontrato il suo amante al bar.He met his lover at the bar.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a local scandal.
- ChiaraHai sentito di Marco e la sua amante?Have you heard about Marco and his mistress?
- AlessandroSì, è uno scandalo terribile, Chiara.Yes, it is a terrible scandal, Chiara.
- ChiaraDicono che l'amante sia una sua collega.They say the lover is a colleague of his.
- AlessandroNon posso credere che Alessandro l'abbia scoperto.I can't believe that Alessandro found out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paramour” translations and entries amante, madama, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amante, madama, CC BY-SA 4.0.
