signore
/siɲˈɲo.re/masculine
In Italian, signore means courtesy title for Italian men (noun).
The term signore translates to 'sir' or 'mister' and is used in formal settings.
Meaning: courtesy title for Italian men (noun)
Which one should you use?
The feminine counterpart to signore is signora, which translates to lady or madam.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of signore is signori, which means gentlemen or sirs.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA is /siɲˈɲo.re/.
Did you know?
- Deep within its history, signore is actually an evolution of the Latin word for 'old', specifically the comparative form of 'senex'.
- While signore is the title, the word signor is used when it precedes a name, such as Signor Rossi.
- Historically, the title signore evolved from a term for a lord or ruler of a city-state to a general polite address for any man.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, signoreGood morning, sir
- Buonasera, signore, come posso aiutarLa?Good evening, sir, how can I assist you?
- Scusi, signore, ma c'è un treno diretto per Roma?Excuse me, sir, is there a direct train to Rome?
- Il signore è molto gentile.The gentleman is very kind.
- Scusi, signore, ha un minuto?Excuse me, sir, do you have a minute?
Example conversation
A polite encounter at a professional office.
- SofiaBuongiorno, signore.Good morning, sir.
- FrancescoBuongiorno, come posso aiutarla?Good morning, how can I help you?
- SofiaVolevo parlare con il dottore.I wanted to speak with the doctor.
- FrancescoCertamente, si sieda pure.Certainly, please have a seat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “signore” translations and entries signore, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries signore, CC BY-SA 4.0.
