Ragazza? Ragazze? Don’t Confuse the Right Word for ‘Girl’ in Italian

Ragazza, bambina, signorina: which is the right word for “girl” in Italian? It depends.…

Ragazza, bambina, signorina: which is the right word for “girl” in Italian? It depends. These beautiful Italian words may seem similar, but each refers to a different age or context. To make things even trickier, “girl,” “boy,” and their plural forms, have almost the same spelling, so mixing them up is easy.

Understanding these differences is more than just vocabulary. These terms are the secret to clear conversation and the rules can apply to other similar words. Start learning all the words for “girl” in Italian today and get one step closer to fluency.

How do you say ‘girl’ in Italian?

In Italian, the word you use for “girl” depends on age and sometimes even the situation. Let’s break it down so you always know which word fits best.

Ragazza

The most common way to say “girl” in Italian is ragazza. But, unlike in English, it is only used for teens and young adults.

• La ragazza scrive una lettera al suo amico. = The girl is writing a letter to her friend.
  

   

Breaking this rule is sometimes possible in informal situations. For example, you can hear a group of older women call themselves ragazze (girls) as a friendly, playful way of speaking.

• Andiamo, ragazze? = Shall we go, girls?

Pay special attention not to confuse ragazza vs. ragazze (girls). Plurals and the masculine form (ragazzo and ragazzi) only differ by the last vowel, so they may initially sound alike. Listen to their pronunciation in the sentences below to spot the difference between “girl” and “boy” in Italian.

• Ci sono undici ragazze in questa squadra. = There are eleven girls on this team.
  

• Il ragazzo sta facendo una foto alla cattedrale. = The boy is taking a photograph of the cathedral. 
  

• I ragazzi nuotano nel lago. = The boys are swimming in the lake. 
  

   

Finally, remember that, like in English, ragazza (girl) and ragazzo (boy) mean “girlfriend” and “boyfriend” when possessive Italian adjectives precede them.

• Questa è la mia ragazza, Rebecca. = This is my girlfriend, Rebecca. 
  

• Questo è il mio ragazzo, Tommaso. = This is my boyfriend, Thomas. 
  

Ragazzina

Ragazzina technically means “little girl,” but it has grown a meaning of its own to call a pre-teen girl, usually 10 to 13 years old.

• È una ragazzina molto educata. = She’s a very well-mannered little girl.
• Quando ero ragazzina andavo sempre a sciare. = When I was a little girl, I used to go skiing all the time.

The masculine and plural forms of ragazzina have the same ending as ragazza:

• le* ragazzine = the little girls
• il* ragazzino = the little boy
• i* ragazzini = the little boys

*Remember that Italian articles must always match the gender and number of the noun.

Bambina

Another way to say “girl” in Italian is bambina, but this time, you are talking about a little girl from infancy up to around 9 years old.

• La bambina e sua nonna sono nella sala da pranzo. = The girl and her grandmother are in the dining room. 
  

• Questa bambina è giapponese. = This girl is from Japan. 
  

• Mia madre mi ha letto questo libro quando ero bambina. = My mother read this book to me when I was a child. 
  

If you want to talk about a female toddler, you can say bambina piccola, where piccola means “little.”

• Anche mia sorella ha una bambina piccola. = My sister also has a little girl.

When you start learning Italian, getting tripped up by the word bambina is easy because it sounds like “baby” in English. However, it is rarely used in Italian for teenagers or adult women.

Like the previous Italian nouns, bambina follows regular patterns: bambine (girls), bambino (boy), bambini (boys).

Formal ways to refer to a young woman or girl in Italian

Italians do have formal language, so it’s helpful to know the right word to use in a public conversation with a stranger.

Signorina

When speaking to a girl in Italian in a formal environment, you can use the word signorina, which is a bit like saying “miss” in English.

In the past, signorina was a noun for unmarried women, but it no longer refers to a marital status. It has become a way to address young women in restaurants, shops, or among strangers.

• Vuole sedersi, signorina? = Would you like to sit down, miss?
• Sono subito da lei, signorina. = I’ll be right with you, miss.

Fanciulla

The word fanciulla is a more literary way to say “girl” in Italian. You’ll find it in novels and poetry. It typically refers to a teen, often with an air of idealized beauty.

• La fanciulla camminava nel bosco. = The young girl was walking in the woods.
• Che bella fanciulla sei diventata! = What a beautiful girl you have become!

How to say ‘girl’ in Italian dialects and slang

Italian dialects influence everyday language, so you may hear other ways to say “girl” in different regions in Italy.

• figghia (Sicily)
• fiòla (Northern Italy)
• guagliona (Naples and Campania)
• pischella (Rome)
• pupa (Southern Italy)
• quatrarra/quatrana (Abruzzo)
• tosa (Lombardy and Veneto)
• wajotta (Avellino city)
• zita (Southern Italy)

Slang also plays a relevant role, especially when talking with young people. Popular ways to say “girl” in Italian slang are

• tipa = girl/chick
  • Chi è quella tipa con Marco? = Who’s that girl with Marco?
• bella = beautiful/gorgeous
  • Ciao bella! = Hi, gorgeous!
  • Vado dalla mia bella. = I’m going to my girl.
• piccolina = little one/baby (affectionate for little girls or girlfriends)
  • Dormi bene, piccolina. = Sleep well, baby.

Other words to refer to women in Italy

Besides ragazza (girl), there’s a wide range of terms for women in Italian depending on age, family role, and context. Here’s a chart to round out your vocabulary.

Still craving more Italian? That’s the spirit! As a next step, you can learn the Italian parts of speech, practice common expressions, or dive into grammar. And if you’re ready to take it further, Rosetta Stone has plenty of tools to help you confidently grow your language skills.

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