Meaning
priest, clergyman
In a sentence
Il sacerdote parla con mia nonna dopo la messa.
The priest talks with my grandmother after mass.
Hai visto il sacerdote davanti alla chiesa?
Did you see the priest in front of the church?
Ieri il sacerdote non è venuto al paese.
Yesterday the priest didn't come to the village.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| sacerdote | masculine · singular |
| sacerdoti | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use sacerdote as the general, often formal term; prete is more common in everyday speech for a Catholic priest.
- For non-Catholic contexts, prefer specific terms like pastore or rabbino; sacerdote can sound generic or tied to ritual roles.
- The feminine sacerdotessa exists but is uncommon and context-dependent; many religious traditions do not use a female equivalent.