heypolyglot
Italian

ufficiale

/uf.fiˈt͡ʃa.le/noun · masculine / adjective · masculineB2 / B1
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Meaning · noun

officer

In a sentence

Mio fratello è un ufficiale dell'esercito.

My brother is an army officer.

Hai parlato con l'ufficiale alla porta?

Did you speak with the officer at the door?

L'ufficiale non ha dato ancora l'ordine.

The officer hasn't given the order yet.

Word forms (2)
WordWord forms
ufficialemasculine · singular
ufficialimasculine · plural

Usage notes

  • Use ufficiale for a military or police officer. For office workers, use impiegato; for a public official, often funzionario.
  • It is a common-gender noun: un ufficiale, un'ufficiale. The article shows gender; the noun form usually stays the same.
  • Also used as an adjective meaning 'official'; don't confuse noun and adjective uses from context.

Meaning · adjective

official

In a sentence

Aspetto ancora la risposta ufficiale dell'azienda.

I'm still waiting for the company's official response.

È già ufficiale la data del concerto?

Is the concert date official already?

Non abbiamo ricevuto nessuna conferma ufficiale.

We haven't received any official confirmation.

Word forms (4)
WordWord forms
ufficialemasculine · singular
ufficialefeminine · singular
ufficialimasculine · plural
ufficialifeminine · plural

Usage notes

  • Usually follows the noun in many fixed phrases: documento ufficiale, versione ufficiale. Before the noun is possible, but often sounds more formal or emphatic.
  • Don't confuse it with formale: ufficiale means institutionally recognized, while formale means polite, ceremonial, or stylistically formal.
  • It agrees in gender and number: ufficiale, ufficiale, ufficiali, ufficiali. The singular form is the same for masculine and feminine.

Related words

Opposites

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