Meaning
speech, talk, conversation
- speech, address, discourse
- talk, conversation
- subject, matter
- speech (faculty of language)
In a sentence
Il tuo discorso è stato chiaro e breve.
Your speech was clear and brief.
Possiamo cambiare discorso, per favore?
Can we change the subject, please?
Non capisco il suo discorso quando parla veloce.
I don't understand his speech when he talks fast.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| discorso | masculine · singular |
| discorsi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- For a formal public speech, discorso fits better than parlata or chiacchierata, which sound informal or regional.
- In fare un discorso, Italian usually needs the article: fare un discorso, not just fare discorso in this sense.
- As a topic marker, it's common in phrases like il discorso è... or tornando al discorso, often meaning “the point is” or “back to the matter.”