Meaning
pious, devout, prayerful
- pious, devout
- charitable (of an institution or act)
In a sentence
Mia nonna è molto pia e prega ogni sera.
My grandmother is very devout and prays every evening.
La famiglia finanziava da anni un'opera pia per i bisognosi.
The family had been funding a charitable institution for the needy for years.
Era una donna molto pia e andava a messa ogni giorno.
She was a very pious woman and went to Mass every day.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| pio | masculine · singular |
| pia | feminine · singular |
| pii | masculine · plural |
| pie | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Mostly literary, religious, or formal. In everyday speech, devoto or religioso is usually more natural.
- It agrees normally: pio, pia, pii, pie. Learners often miss the irregular-looking plural pii.
- Before a vowel, the masculine singular is often written pio, not contracted; just match the noun normally.