Italian · People & Family

"Widow" in Italian: vedova

la vedova

Say it: lah VEH-doh-vahfeminine · la vedovanoun/la ˈve.do.va/

Widow in Italian is la vedova (lah VEH-doh-vah), feminine. Una vedova means a widow. Il vedovo is the male counterpart—it does not count for this headword.

Community introduction

La vedova Rossi abita al piano di sopra.
Widow Rossi lives upstairs.
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How to pronounce vedova

Say it

lah VEH-doh-vah

/la ˈve.do.va/

Vedova: VEH-doh-vah. Stress VEH. Soft v. Three syllables.

"Widow" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
la vedovathe widow

Core noun.

una vedovaa widow

Indefinite.

rimasta vedovawidowed (she)

Status phrasing.

il vedovothe widower

Male form—not this headword.

How to use vedova in real life

  1. 1Community introduction

    La vedova Rossi abita al piano di sopra.

    Widow Rossi lives upstairs.

    La vedova + surname.

  2. 2Form paperwork

    Stato civile: vedova.

    Marital status: widow.

    Bare vedova.

  3. 3Soft conversation

    È vedova da molti anni e sta bene.

    She has been a widow for many years and she's well.

    È vedova.

Mistakes English speakers make with vedova

Incorrect: Lei è un vedovo.

Correct: Lei è una vedova.

Woman → vedova, not vedovo.

Incorrect: La widow abita qui.

Correct: La vedova abita qui.

Use vedova.

Good to know

Vedova can appear with a surname in older neighbourhood talk—tone should stay respectful. Many prefer first names now. Legal forms still list vedova under stato civile.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

A neighbour explains who lives next door

  1. ChatPal

    Al secondo piano c'è la vedova Bianchi.

    On the second floor lives widow Bianchi.

  2. You

    Ah, la vedova che lascia i fiori nel cortile?

    Ah, the widow who leaves flowers in the courtyard?

  3. ChatPal

    Esatto. È gentilissima.

    Exactly. She's very kind.

  4. You

    Allora la saluto quando la incontro.

    Then I'll say hello when I see her.

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"Widow" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Widow" in Italian

How do you say widow?

La vedova.

Widower?

Il vedovo—different word.

She is a widow?

È vedova. / È una vedova.

Gender?

Feminine noun: la vedova.

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