Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Selfish" in Italian: egoista
egoista
Selfish in Italian is egoista (eh-goh-EE-stah)—same form for masculine and feminine in the singular. Plural: egoisti / egoiste. It is a strong label, so soften with un po' when you can.
Sharing food
Non essere egoista: lascia una fetta anche a me.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce egoista
Say it
eh-goh-EE-stah
/eɡoˈi.sta/
Egoista stresses EE: eh-goh-EE-stah.
"Selfish" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| egoista | selfish Default adjective. | Default adjective. |
| essere egoista | to be selfish Non essere egoista. | Non essere egoista. |
| un po' egoista | a bit selfish Softer criticism. | Softer criticism. |
| egoismo | selfishness The noun. | The noun. |
How to use egoista in real life
- 1Sharing food
Non essere egoista: lascia una fetta anche a me.
Don't be selfish: leave a slice for me too.
Non essere egoista.
- 2About a coworker
In riunione è davvero egoista.
In meetings he's really selfish.
Egoista for character.
- 3Self-check
Forse sono stata un po' egoista ieri.
Maybe I was a bit selfish yesterday.
Same form for feminine singular.
Mistakes English speakers make with egoista
Incorrect: Lui è egoisto.
Correct: Lui è egoista.
The common form is egoista, not egoisto.
Incorrect: È molto selfish.
Correct: È molto egoista.
Use egoista, not English.
Good to know
Calling someone egoista lands hard in Italian friendships. People often prefer concrete complaints (non hai condiviso) before the label, especially face to face.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Splitting the last piece of cake
ChatPal
Se mangi tutto, sembri un po' egoista.
If you eat it all, you seem a bit selfish.
You
Hai ragione… non voglio essere egoista.
You're right… I don't want to be selfish.
ChatPal
Dividiamola a metà e pace.
Let's split it in half and we're good.
You
Affare fatto, ecco la tua parte.
Deal—here's your share.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Selfish" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Selfish" in Italian
Does egoista change for gender?
Singular stays egoista. Plurals are egoisti (m) and egoiste (f).
Is it rude to say?
It can be blunt—soften with un po' or describe the behaviour.
What is the noun?
Egoismo.
Opposite word?
Generoso/a or altruista.
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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