Meaning · adjective
private, personal
In a sentence
Questo numero è privato, non darlo a nessuno.
This number is private, don't give it to anyone.
Questa è una proprietà privata e non si può entrare.
This is private property and you cannot enter.
Preferisco tenere la mia vita privata.
I prefer to keep my life private.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| privato | masculine · singular |
| privata | feminine · singular |
| privati | masculine · plural |
| private | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use 'privato' for personal/non-public things (e.g., 'vita privata'). 'Personale' often means 'individual' or 'staff-related.'
- Agrees in gender/number: 'privato/a/i/e.' Common mistake: forgetting the feminine form ('privata').
- In formal contexts, 'privato' can mean 'civilian' (e.g., 'settore privato' vs. 'pubblico').
Meaning · noun
private person, private citizen
In a sentence
È un privato, non lavora per lo Stato.
He is a private citizen, not a state employee.
Hai parlato con un privato o con un'azienda?
Did you speak with a private person or a company?
Tengo molto al mio privato, non posto tutto.
I care a lot about my privacy, I don't post everything.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| privato | masculine · singular |
| privati | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- As a noun, privato often appears after a preposition: da privato, tra privati. Alone, cittadino is often more common for "citizen."
- Do not confuse noun privato with the adjective privato "private" or the past participle privato di "deprived of."
- For "privacy," Italian often prefers privacy in modern usage; riservatezza is more formal, while privato as a noun is less common.
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