Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| presidente | /pre.siˈdɛn.te/ | feminine, masculine |
| presidentessa | /pre.zi.denˈtes.sa/ | feminine |
| presidente della repubblica | feminine, masculine | |
| presidentessa della repubblica | feminine | |
| capo dello stato | masculine |
In Italian, the word refers to the head of state of a republic. Depending on the context, you may also see the term capo dello stato, which specifically means 'the head of state'.
Which one should you use?
While presidente can be used for both men and women, presidentessa is a specifically feminine form used to denote a female president. You may also use the phrase presidente della repubblica or presidentessa della repubblica to specify the president of the republic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In modern political contexts, the form presidentessa is often considered less formal or even slightly pejorative compared to using the feminine version of la presidente.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form presidente becomes presidenti in the plural. The feminine form presidentessa becomes presidentesse in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable: /pre.siˈdɛn.te/.
Did you know?
- The word presidente is derived from the Latin praesidentem, meaning 'one who sits in front'.
- In Italy, the presidente della repubblica is a ceremonial figurehead with limited power, unlike the executive presidents in the US or Brazil.
- While presidente is the title for the head of state, it is also used for the chairpersons of sports clubs and companies.
Examples in context
- Chi è il presidente?Who is the president?This sentence is useful for asking who the president is using presidente.Tatoeba #13080264 by Guybrush88, translation #9725349 by Adelpa
- È vicino al presidente.He is close to the president.This sentence is useful for stating someone's proximity to the president using presidente.Tatoeba #378116 by Pharamp, translation #301321 by CK
- Sarà un buon presidente?Will he be a good president?This sentence is useful for questioning if someone will be a good president using presidente.Tatoeba #11253500 by Guybrush88, translation #10570015 by DJ_Saidez
- Ho incontrato il presidente italiano ieri.I met the Italian president yesterday.
- 211 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are watching a news report on TV.
- LorenzoHai sentito cosa ha detto il presidente?Did you hear what the president said?
- MartinaNo, non ho visto il telegiornale.No, I didn't see the news.
- LorenzoStava parlando della nuova legge.He was talking about the new law.
- MartinaCapisco, la situazione è molto importante.I see, the situation is very important.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “president” translations and entries presidente, presidentessa, presidente della repubblica, capo dello stato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries della, presidente, presidentessa, repubblica, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
