inquilino
/in.kwiˈli.no/
The English word 'tenant' can be translated into Italian as inquilino. If unsure, use inquilino. Wiktionary also lists locatario.
Meaning: one who pays a fee in return for the use of land, etc. (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| inquilino | /in.kwiˈli.no/ |
| locatario |
A tenant is someone who pays a fee in return for the use of land, etc.
Which one should you use?
While inquilino is a way to refer to a tenant, locatario is a technical, legal term used in rental contracts and formal legal documents.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of inquilino is inquilini. If you are referring to a female tenant, use inquilina. For the legal term, the plural of locatario is locatari and the feminine form is locataria.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /in.kwiˈli.no/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word inquilino is a cognate of the English word 'inquiline', which in biology describes a species that lives in the nest or home of another without causing harm.
- An inquilino abusivo is the Italian term for a 'squatter', using the word for tenant to describe someone with no legal right to the property.
- In a historical context, the Latin root of inquilino referred to a person who lived on an estate but did not own the land, often occupying a social middle ground.
Examples in context
- Tom è il mio inquilino.Tom is my tenant.This sentence shows how to use inquilino to identify someone as a tenant.Tatoeba #10452838 by Guybrush88, translation #10190091 by ddnktr
- Il signor Rossi è l'inquilino/locatario/conduttore dell'appartamento.Mr. Rossi is the tenant of the apartment.
- L'inquilino paga l'affitto ogni primo del mese.The tenant pays the rent on the first of every month.
- Cerchiamo un nuovo inquilino per l'appartamento.We are looking for a new tenant for the apartment.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Sofia are discussing their rental property.
- AlessandroSofia, hai parlato con l'inquilino?Sofia, have you spoken with the tenant?
- SofiaSì, Alessandro, è molto gentile.Yes, Alessandro, he is very kind.
- AlessandroÈ un buon inquilino?Is he a good tenant?
- SofiaSì, tiene la casa molto pulita.Yes, he keeps the house very clean.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tenant” translations and entries inquilino, locatario, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
