Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| parola | /paˈrɔ.la/ | feminine |
| vocabolo | /voˈka.bo.lo/ | masculine |
| termine | /ˈtɛr.mi.ne/ | masculine |
There are also idiomatic uses, such as parola d'ordine, which means 'password' or 'code word' and dare la parola, which means 'to give the floor' or 'to give someone a turn to speak' in formal settings like debates.
Which one should you use?
While parola is the common word for 'word', vocabolo is a more technical or formal term used in linguistics or literature. Termine is used when referring to a specific technical term or a word used in a specialized context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine noun parola becomes parole in the plural. The masculine noun vocabolo becomes vocaboli in the plural, and the masculine noun termine becomes termini in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
parola is pronounced /paˈrɔ.la/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the expression parola dionisiaca refers to a word used to evoke emotion or ecstasy rather than to convey a literal meaning.
- Italian has a specific phrase parole di circostanza for 'polite words' or 'platitudes' that are said only because the social situation requires them.
- The common Italian word for 'word', parola, actually shares its roots with the mathematical term 'parabola'.
Examples in context
- Qual è la parola?What's the word?This sentence is useful for asking what the word is.Tatoeba #1318413 by Guybrush88, translation #1318411 by CM
- Ha la mia parola.You have my word.This sentence is useful for saying you have someone's word.Tatoeba #1819450 by Guybrush88, translation #1638261 by Spamster
- Non è una parola.That's not a word.This sentence is useful for stating that something is not a word.Tatoeba #11717501 by Guybrush88, translation #6035820 by mailohilohi
- La parola "amore" significa "love" in italiano.The word "amore" means "love" in Italian.
- Studiamo i vocaboli più comuni della lingua italiana.We are studying the most common words of the Italian language.
- Qual è il termine corretto per "computer" in italiano?What is the correct term for "computer" in Italian?
- 1071 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are studying together in a library.
- FrancescoMartina, come si scrive questa parola?Martina, how do you write this word?
- MartinaSi scrive con una sola 'z', Francesco.It is written with only one 'z', Francesco.
- FrancescoGrazie, è una parola molto strana.Thanks, it is a very strange word.
- MartinaSì, ma è molto comune in italiano.Yes, but it is very common in Italian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “word” translations and entries parola, vocabolo, termine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries parola, termine, vocabolo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
