Italian · People & Family

"Partner" in Italian: compagno / compagna

il compagno / la compagna

Say it: kohm-PAH-nyohmasculine / feminine · il compagno / la compagnanoun/komˈpaɲ.ɲo/

Note: also: il/la partner

Partner in Italian is often il compagno or la compagna (kohm-PAH-nyoh / kohm-PAH-nyah)—romantic or life partner without marriage. Work partners may be socio/a or partner (loanword).

Dinner intro

Ti presento la mia compagna, Giulia.
Meet my partner, Giulia.
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How to pronounce compagno / compagna

Say it

kohm-PAH-nyoh

/komˈpaɲ.ɲo/

Compagno stresses PAH: kohm-PAH-nyoh. Soft gn like the ni in onion.

"Partner" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
il compagno / la compagnapartner (romantic)

Everyday relationship word.

il mio compagnomy partner (m)

Introductions.

la mia compagnamy partner (f)

Introductions.

partnerpartner (loanword)

Business or English-style dating talk.

How to use compagno / compagna in real life

  1. 1Dinner intro

    Ti presento la mia compagna, Giulia.

    Meet my partner, Giulia.

    La mia compagna.

  2. 2Travel plans

    Viaggio sempre con il mio compagno.

    I always travel with my partner.

    Il mio compagno.

  3. 3Friendly question

    Il tuo compagno viene alla festa?

    Is your partner coming to the party?

    Il tuo with tu.

Mistakes English speakers make with compagno / compagna

Incorrect: Lei è il mio compagno.

Correct: Lei è la mia compagna.

Use compagna for a woman.

Incorrect: Questo è il mio partner (solo inglese).

Correct: Questo è il mio compagno.

Prefer compagno/compagna for a life partner in Italian.

Good to know

Compagno/compagna can also mean classmate or comrade, so context matters. For a romantic partner it is normal and less formal than fidanzato when you are not engaged.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Introducing partners at an aperitivo

  1. ChatPal

    Questa è Sara, la mia compagna.

    This is Sara, my partner.

  2. You

    Piacere! Il mio compagno arriva tra cinque minuti.

    Nice to meet you! My partner arrives in five minutes.

  3. ChatPal

    Perfetto, così chiacchieriamo tutti insieme.

    Perfect, then we can all chat together.

  4. You

    Sì, lui è un po' timido all'inizio.

    Yes, he's a bit shy at first.

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"Partner" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Partner" in Italian

Compagno or fidanzato?

Fidanzato/a often implies engagement or a serious labelled boyfriend/girlfriend. Compagno/a is a common partner word.

Can it mean classmate?

Yes—compagno di classe. Context clears the meaning.

How do I say my partner?

Il mio compagno or la mia compagna.

Is partner used in Italian?

Yes as a loanword, especially at work; for romance, compagno/a still sounds more Italian.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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