single
/ˈsin.ɡol/
In Italian, the English loanword single is used to mean 'single' (one who is not married).
Meaning: one who is not married (noun)
Which one should you use?
While single is used in casual conversation, the formal term for an unmarried man is celibe and for an unmarried woman is nubile. Additionally, non sposato literally translates to 'not married' and is an appropriate way to say 'single' when being formal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word 'single' is widely recognized and used in informal conversations in Italy, especially among younger generations. For more formal situations, use celibe for men, nubile for women or the phrase non sposato to indicate someone is 'not married'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈsin.ɡol/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The formal term nubile is derived from the Latin nubere, which means 'to veil', referring to the veil worn by a bride.
- The word celibe is the root for the English word 'celibacy'. While 'celibacy' often implies a religious vow in English, celibe is simply the standard formal term for any unmarried man.
- If you are looking for 'single' portions of food in an Italian menu, you will likely see the word monoporzione instead of using the English loanword single.
Examples in context
- È un padre single.He's a single father.This sentence is useful for describing someone as a single father using single.Tatoeba #4808893 by Guybrush88, translation #4161046 by Lepotdeterre
- È giovane e single.She's young and single.This sentence is useful for describing someone as young and single using single.Tatoeba #4863410 by Guybrush88, translation #2199201 by Hybrid
- Tom è single, vero?Tom is single, isn't he?This sentence is useful for asking for confirmation about someone being single using single.Tatoeba #4903185 by Guybrush88, translation #3416887 by CK
- 151 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are chatting at a cafe.
- ChiaraSei ancora single, Alessandro?Are you still single, Alessandro?
- AlessandroSì, sono single da un anno.Yes, I have been single for a year.
- ChiaraIo invece sono single e felice.As for me, I am single and happy.
- AlessandroBeata te, Chiara!Lucky you, Chiara!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry single, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
