Meaning
merchant, trader, dealer
- merchant, dealer, trader, monger
In a sentence
Il mercante vende frutta fresca al mercato.
The merchant sells fresh fruit at the market.
Quel mercante d'arte vende quadri antichi a collezionisti privati.
That art dealer sells antique paintings to private collectors.
Non sono un mercante, vendo solo cose usate.
I'm not a merchant, I only sell used things.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| mercante | masculine · singular |
| mercanti | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use mercante mostly in historical, literary, or fixed expressions. In modern business, commerciante or negoziante is usually more natural.
- It’s a common noun: il mercante, la mercante. The feminine merchantessa exists but sounds old-fashioned or marked.
- Don’t confuse mercante with commerciante: mercante often suggests long-distance trade, older contexts, or a more elevated tone.