Italian

[ ih-tal-yuhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Italy, its people, or their language.

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Italy, or a person of Italian descent.
2. a Romance language, the language of Italy, official also in Switzerland. : It, It., Ital.

Italian

/ ɪˈtæljən /

noun

1. the official language of Italy and one of the official languages of Switzerland: the native language of approximately 60 million people. It belongs to the Romance group of the Indo-European family, and there is a considerable diversity of dialects
2. a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Italy, or a descendant of one
3. See Italian vermouth

adjective

1. relating to, denoting, or characteristic of Italy, its inhabitants, or their language

Pronunciation Note

The pronunciation of Italian with an initial [ahy] sound (pronounced like the word eye ) and often with level stress on the first and second syllables: [ahy, -, tal, -y, uh, n] is heard primarily from uneducated speakers. This pronunciation is sometimes facetious or disparaging in purpose and is usually considered offensive.

Other Word Forms

• I·talian·esque adjective
• anti-I·talian adjective noun
• half-I·talian adjective
• non-I·talian adjective noun
• pro-I·talian adjective noun
• pseudo-I·talian adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Italian¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word Italiānus. See Italy, -an

Example Sentences

These Italian traditions didn’t disappear after immigration; they adapted.

From Salon

They flew into Ciampino airport, stepping out into late afternoon sunshine, with Italian government officials and a guard of honour to greet them.

From BBC

However, Italian flyer Capuozzo made amends soon after with a stunning solo finish, showing deft footwork and blistering speed to score under the posts.

From BBC

"Max at the moment is somehow making the difference himself," the Italian said, "but it's very difficult to keep up for 24 events in a season if you don't have the best car."

From BBC

They have a favorite Italian red and, indeed, have dined with the winemaker and his family — an unforgettable experience!

From Salon