sovrintendente
/so.vrin.tenˈdɛn.te/feminine, masculine, alternative form
The English word superintendent is sovrintendente in Italian. Wiktionary also lists soprintendente.
Meaning: a person who is authorized to supervise, direct or administer something (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sovrintendente | /so.vrin.tenˈdɛn.te/ | feminine, masculine, alternative form |
| soprintendente | /so.prin.tenˈdɛn.te/ | feminine, masculine |
A superintendent is a person authorized to supervise, direct or administer something. In colloquial Italian, you might refer to someone in charge using the word capo.
Which one should you use?
sovrintendente is an alternative spelling of soprintendente.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form for both spelling variants is either soprintendenti or sovrintendenti.
How do you pronounce it?
/so.vrin.tenˈdɛn.te/. The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italy, a soprintendente is specifically the high-ranking official who manages a museum or an archaeological site. Unlike in English, the term is strongly associated with the protection of national cultural heritage.
- While sovrintendente can be a general term, in the world of opera, the sovrintendente is the administrative chief who manages the theater's budget and staff rather than the artistic direction.
- The word 'intendente' is a shared relative of the English word 'intend', meaning both languages link the concept of supervision to the act of directing one's attention or purpose toward something.
Examples in context
- Il sovrintendente ha approvato il nuovo progetto.The superintendent approved the new project.
- La sovrintendente coordina il lavoro del team.The superintendent coordinates the team's work.
- Dobbiamo parlare con il sovrintendente domani.We need to speak with the superintendent tomorrow.
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are visiting a theater.
- MartinaSai dove si trova il sovrintendente?Do you know where the superintendent is?
- MatteoSì, è nell'ufficio in fondo al corridoio.Yes, he is in the office at the end of the hall.
- MartinaDevo consegnare questi documenti a lui.I have to deliver these documents to him.
- MatteoAllora vai pure, Matteo ti accompagna.Then go ahead, Matteo will accompany you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “superintendent” translations and entries sovrintendente, soprintendente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries soprintendente, sovrintendente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
