Meaning
worker, factory worker, workman, working man
- worker
- factory worker
In a sentence
Mio padre fa l'operaio in una fabbrica di auto.
My father works as a factory worker in a car factory.
Sei ancora un operaio o hai cambiato lavoro?
Are you still a worker, or did you change jobs?
Gli operai non hanno finito il turno oggi.
The workers haven't finished their shift today.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| operaio | masculine · singular |
| operai | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use operaio for manual or industrial labor. For a generic worker, especially office staff, lavoratore is broader.
- Operaio often contrasts with impiegato: blue-collar/manual versus white-collar/clerical.
- The feminine is operaia. Plural: operai, operaie.