Meaning
subject, material
- school subject
- material, substance
- subject, topic
In a sentence
La matematica è la mia materia preferita.
Math is my favorite subject.
Che materia hai domani a scuola?
What subject do you have at school tomorrow?
Non capisco bene questa materia.
I don't understand this subject well.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| materia | feminine · singular |
| materie | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For school subjects, materia is the standard word: Che materia studi? More natural than argomento or soggetto.
- In science or formal contexts, materia can mean physical matter; materiale usually means material(s) for making something.
- As a feminine noun, it takes la/una and adjectives in feminine singular: materia difficile, materia prima.