Italian · People & Family
"Boss" in Italian: capo
il capo
Boss in Italian is il capo (KAH-poh), feminine la capa in some workplaces, though il mio capo is often used regardless. Plural i capi.
Office chat
Il capo vuole il report entro mezzogiorno.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce capo
Say it
KAH-poh
/ˈka.po/
Capo is KAH-poh. Stress the first syllable.
"Boss" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il capo | the boss Workplace superior. | Workplace superior. |
| i capi | the bosses Plural. | Plural. |
| il mio capo | my boss Common possessive. | Common possessive. |
| capoufficio | office manager / head of office More specific title. | More specific title. |
How to use capo in real life
- 1Office chat
Il capo vuole il report entro mezzogiorno.
The boss wants the report by noon.
Il capo.
- 2Calling in
Devo avvisare il mio capo che arrivo tardi.
I need to tell my boss I'm arriving late.
Il mio capo.
- 3Meeting
I capi discutono il budget in sala riunioni.
The bosses are discussing the budget in the meeting room.
I capi.
Mistakes English speakers make with capo
Incorrect: La capo for a man.
Correct: Il capo.
Masculine article with capo for a male boss.
Incorrect: Il boss.
Correct: Il capo.
Everyday Italian prefers capo.
Good to know
Capo is casual and common; direttore or responsabile sound more formal on business cards. Saying il mio capo is normal small talk—not automatically negative.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before a work meeting
ChatPal
Il capo è già in sala?
Is the boss already in the room?
You
Sì. Il capo vuole iniziare alle dieci.
Yes. The boss wants to start at ten.
ChatPal
Allora non facciamo aspettare il capo.
Then let's not keep the boss waiting.
You
Porto io le slide al capo.
I'll bring the slides to the boss.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Boss" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Boss" in Italian
Female boss?
La capa or still il mio capo; titles like responsabile also work.
Plural?
I capi.
Bossy?
Autoritario—different word.
Head of department?
Il capo reparto or il responsabile.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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