contadino
/kon.taˈdi.no/masculine
The Italian word for peasant is contadino. Wiktionary also lists cafone.
Meaning: member of the agriculture low class (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| contadino | /kon.taˈdi.no/ | masculine |
| cafone | /kaˈfo.ne/ | masculine |
contadino refers to a member of the agriculture low class.
Which one should you use?
While contadino refers to a person's occupation in agriculture, cafone is a derogatory term used to describe someone who is rude, uncultured or a 'boor'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is contadino. The feminine form of contadino is contadina. The masculine plural form of contadino is contadini. The feminine plural form of contadino is contadine.
How do you pronounce it?
/kon.taˈdi.no/. The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- One theory suggests cafone comes from the phrase c'a fune, meaning 'with a rope'. This mocked peasants who allegedly tied themselves together with ropes to avoid getting lost in the fields.
- The term contadino shares a root with the word contado, which historically referred to the rural territory governed by a city-state, rather than just 'nature'.
- In some dialects, calling someone a cafone is not just about being uncultured, but specifically refers to a loud and obnoxious way of speaking associated with rural areas.
Examples in context
- Sono contadino.I'm a peasant.This sentence is useful for stating your occupation using contadino.Tatoeba #13902461 by rul, translation #7897733 by shekitten
- Nei tempi passati, l'Italia dipendeva dai contadini per la propria produzione alimentare.In the past, Italy relied on peasants for its food production.
- Mio nonno era un contadino molto felice.My grandfather was a very happy peasant.
- Il contadino lavora nei campi ogni giorno.The peasant works in the fields every day.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are looking at an old photograph of an ancestor.
- GiuliaChi è quest'uomo nella foto, Lorenzo?Who is this man in the photo, Lorenzo?
- LorenzoEra mio bisnonno, un semplice contadino.He was my great-grandfather, a simple peasant.
- GiuliaDove si trovava la sua fattoria?Where was his farm located?
- LorenzoSi trovava in una piccola valle.It was in a small valley.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peasant” translations and entries contadino, cafone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cafone, contadino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
