anno
/ˈan.no/masculine
The Italian word for year is anno.
anno refers to the time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun. You can use anno solare to express the concept of a 'solar year' and anno civile to denote the 'civil year' or calendar year.
Meaning: time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of anno is anni. Related to this is the adjective annale, which is used primarily in formal or historical contexts, such as when referring to annals.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈan.no/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- Because anno comes from a root meaning 'to go', the word itself carries a hidden linguistic sense of the passage or 'going' of time.
- When Italians talk about a 'gap year' or a year off, they often use the English term 'gap year' instead of a translation using anno.
- An 'anniversary' in Italian is often referred to as a compleanno when discussing a person's age, though the roots differ slightly in usage.
Examples in context
- È un anno nuovo.It's a new year.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the phrase anno.Tatoeba #3899123 by Guybrush88, translation #1851051 by rpglover64
- Vado lì ogni anno.I go there every year.Tatoeba #4504939 by Guybrush88, translation #528248 by fanty
- Ero lì un anno fa.I was there a year ago.Tatoeba #5605863 by Guybrush88, translation #5186120 by CK
- Questo è il mio libro preferito dell'anno.This is my favorite book of the year.
- Mi sono laureato l'anno scorso.I graduated last year.
- Le elezioni si svolgeranno l'anno prossimo.The elections will take place next year.
- Ho viaggiato per tutto l'anno solare.I traveled throughout the solar year.
- 1380 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are talking about their future plans.
- GiuliaQuando finisci l'università, Matteo?When do you finish university, Matteo?
- MatteoFinisco tra un anno.I finish in one year.
- GiuliaÈ un periodo molto importante.It is a very important period.
- MatteoSì, sarà un anno intenso.Yes, it will be an intense year.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “year” translations and entries anno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
