pensionato
/pen.sjoˈna.to/
The Italian word for retired is pensionato.
The term is a common and straightforward way to describe someone who has left employment. In casual conversation, someone might also use the phrase Non lavoro più to say they don't work anymore.
Meaning: having left employment (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word pensionato is derived from pensione (pension), and literally means a pensioner or one who receives a pension.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use pensionata for a woman, pensionati for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and pensionate for a group consisting only of women.
How do you pronounce it?
/pen.sjoˈna.to/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italy, the word pensione describes both a retirement pension and a boarding house or small hotel. A pensionato is someone who has retired, but a pensione is a place where you can stay and eat.
- In a humorous or ironic context, an Italian might call a lazy person or a pet a pensionato if they spend their entire day lounging in the sun.
- While pensionato describes someone receiving a pension, an Italian might instead say they are a riposo, which literally translates to 'at rest'.
Examples in context
- Non ha lavoro, è pensionato.He doesn't have a job. He's retired.This sentence shows how to use pensionato to describe someone who no longer has a job.Tatoeba #466560 by Guybrush88, translation #466562 by FeuDRenais
- Sono pensionatoI am retired
- Non lavoro più da quando sono in pensioneI don't work anymore since I am retired
- Marco è pensionato.Marco is retired.
- Sono in pensione da due anni.I have been retired for two years.
- Mio padre è un pensionato molto attivo.My father is a very active retired man.
- È un uomo pensionato, vive in campagna.He is a retired man, he lives in the countryside.
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are talking about a neighbor.
- ChiaraConosci il signor Bianchi?Do you know Mr. Bianchi?
- AlessandroSì, è un pensionato molto gentile.Yes, he is a very kind retired man.
- ChiaraLui è sempre molto occupato?Is he always very busy?
- AlessandroSì, anche se è pensionato non si riposa mai.Yes, even though he is retired he never rests.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pensionato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
