Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| posto | /ˈpos.to/ /ˈpɔs.to/ |
masculine |
| luogo | /ˈlwɔ.ɡo/ | masculine |
| posizione | /po.zitˈt͡sjo.ne/ | feminine |
posto is widely used to mean a general 'place', a specific 'spot' or even a physical 'seat' or 'space', such as a seat on a bus or a job opening. luogo refers to a 'place' or 'location' in a more abstract or official sense. posizione specifically refers to a 'position'.
Which one should you use?
posto is the most common and versatile, used for general places, specific spots or physical seats. luogo is more formal and abstract, frequently appearing in literary or official contexts to denote a location. posizione is used specifically when referring to a position.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
luogo and posto are masculine nouns, while posizione is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of posto is /ˈpos.to/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using posizione when you simply want to refer to a geographical 'place'. It is more natural to use posto or luogo for a location.
Did you know?
- While posto refers to a physical spot, luogo is often used in the phrase luogo comune, which translates to 'cliché' or 'commonplace'.
- While posto means 'place', it is also used in the expression mettere a posto to mean 'to tidy up' or 'to fix'.
- The word posto shares a root with the English word 'post', as both originate from the Latin 'positus', meaning 'placed or set'.
Examples in context
- È un buon posto?Is that a good place?This sentence is useful for asking if a place is good using posto.Tatoeba #8193060 by Guybrush88, translation #5006228 by CK
- Il posto è bello.The place is beautiful.This sentence is useful for describing a place as beautiful using posto.Tatoeba #6675411 by Guybrush88, translation #5747235 by CM
- È un luogo reale?Is that a real place?This sentence is useful for asking if a place is real using luogo.Tatoeba #10151717 by Guybrush88, translation #10054513 by ddnktr
- Mi piacerebbe visitare luoghi famosi in Italia.I would like to visit famous places in Italy.
- C'è un posto tranquillo dove posso lavorare?Is there a quiet place where I can work?
- Conosci qualche posticino carino dove posso mangiare pizza?Do you know any nice little place where I can eat pizza?
- Ci vediamo in piazza Santa Croce.Let's meet at Santa Croce Square.
- Potresti darmi la località esatta? Mi sono perso.Could you give me the exact location? I am lost.
- Qual è il tuo posto preferito in Italia?What is your favorite place in Italy?
- Hai mai visitato un luogo magico?Have you ever visited a magical place?
- Mi consigli un posticino romantico per una cena?Can you recommend a romantic little place for a dinner?
- 974 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are looking for a table in a crowded cafe.
- SofiaLorenzo, hai visto un posto libero?Lorenzo, did you see a free place?
- LorenzoNo, questo posto è già occupato.No, this place is already occupied.
- SofiaAllora cerchiamo un altro posto in centro.Then let's look for another place downtown.
- LorenzoVa bene, andiamo a vedere.Okay, let's go see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “place” translations and entries posto, luogo, posizione, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries luogo, posizione, posto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
