Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən How to pronounce Italian (audio)
i-,
also
ˌī- How to pronounce Italian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Italy
b
: a person of Italian descent
2
: the Romance language of the Italians

Italian

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Italy, the Italians, or Italian

Examples of Italian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This opera is sung in Italian with English captions. Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024 The collection’s design, which features Basquiat’s 1983 painting In Italian, reflects the concept of assemblage—both in art and winemaking. Rachel King, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The Italian actress had been narrating HBO’s adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s novels, about the lives of two book-loving, quietly competitive friends from a poor Naples neighborhood, since its first episode in 2018. Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024 Of all the new metro Phoenix restaurants, try these 3 first: Italian to fine dining 'Meth lab of democracy' no more: Why is everyone so obsessed with Arizona? Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Italian 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Italian was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Italian

Cite this Entry

“Italian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Italian. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Italian

noun
Ital·​ian
ə-ˈtal-yən,
i-
1
a
: a person born or living in Italy
b
: a person of Italian ancestry
2
: the Romance language of the Italians
Italian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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