Italian · Travel & Getting Around
"City" in Italian: città
la città
City in Italian is la città (lah cheet-TAH), feminine, with a written accent on the final à. In città means in the city. Centro città is the city centre.
Weekend plan
Domenica resto in città, senza treno.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce città
Say it
lah cheet-TAH
/la tʃitˈta/
Città stresses the final syllable: cheet-TAH. The double t is held. Never drop the accent mark in writing.
"City" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la città | the city Default noun. | Default noun. |
| in città | in the city / downtown Location phrase. | Location phrase. |
| centro città | city centre Central area. | Central area. |
| una grande città | a big city Describing size. | Describing size. |
How to use città in real life
- 1Weekend plan
Domenica resto in città, senza treno.
Sunday I'm staying in the city, no train.
In città for the urban area.
- 2Comparing places
Questa città è più tranquilla di Milano.
This city is quieter than Milan.
Città as subject.
- 3Giving directions
Il museo è in centro città, vicino al duomo.
The museum is in the city centre, near the cathedral.
Centro città collocation.
Mistakes English speakers make with città
Incorrect: La citta è bella. (no accent)
Correct: La città è bella.
Write the accent: città.
Incorrect: Il città è grande.
Correct: La città è grande.
Città is feminine: la città.
Good to know
Italians contrast in città with in campagna (in the countryside) constantly. Small historic centres still count as città when they have a comune and a name. Saying centro means the centre; centro città spells it out for visitors.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing where to spend Saturday
ChatPal
Preferisci la città o il mare domani?
Do you prefer the city or the sea tomorrow?
You
La città: voglio un museo e un caffè.
The city: I want a museum and a coffee.
ChatPal
Allora restiamo in città vicino al centro.
Then let's stay in the city near the centre.
You
Perfetto. Questa città la conosco ancora poco.
Perfect. I still don't know this city well.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"City" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "City" in Italian
Why the accent on città?
It marks stress on the last syllable and is required in spelling.
City vs town?
Città covers both larger cities and many towns; paese can mean a small town.
How do I say downtown?
In centro or in centro città.
Plural?
Le città—same form, different article.
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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