This list includes 61 Italian words that start with S, from “sacco” to “sì”. These common, learner-friendly lemmas include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and everyday vocabulary useful for study, teaching, and translation.
Italian words that start with S are individual lemmas beginning with the letter S used in modern Italian. Many come from Latin roots; for example, “sacco” appears in idioms and everyday speech.
Below you’ll find the table with Italian word, English translation, and example usage.
Italian word: The listed lemma in Italian; use it to recognize correct spelling and locate the entry quickly.
English translation: A concise equivalent or short phrase that helps you understand meaning at a glance.
Example usage: One Italian sentence plus an immediate English gloss shows natural context and common word patterns.
Italian words that start with S
| Word | Part of speech | English translation | Example usage (Italian — English gloss) |
|---|---|---|---|
| sapere | verb | to know | Voglio sapere la verità — I want to know the truth |
| sacco | noun | bag a lot informal | Ho un sacco di libri — I have a lot of books |
| sala | noun | room hall | La conferenza è nella sala grande — The talk is in the large hall |
| sale | noun | salt | Metti un po di sale nella zuppa — Put some salt in the soup |
| salire | verb | to go up to climb | Sali le scale lentamente — Go up the stairs slowly |
| saltare | verb | to jump to skip | I bambini saltano nel parco — The children jump in the park |
| salto | noun | jump skip | Ha fatto un grande salto — He made a big jump |
| salutare | verb | to greet to say hello | Quando arrivi salutami tutti — When you arrive say hello to everyone |
| saluto | noun | greeting | Il suo saluto era molto caloroso — His greeting was very warm |
| salute | noun | health | La salute è importante in ogni età — Health is important at every age |
| sano | adjective | healthy | Mangia frutta per restare sano — Eat fruit to stay healthy |
| sapone | noun | soap | Compra sapone per le mani — Buy soap for the hands |
| sapore | noun | taste flavor | Questo piatto ha un buon sapore — This dish has a good flavor |
| scambio | noun | exchange swap | Lo scambio di idee è stato utile — The exchange of ideas was useful |
| scambiare | verb | to exchange to mistake | Ho scambiato le chiavi per quelle sbagliate — I mistook the keys for the wrong ones |
| scegliere | verb | to choose | Devi scegliere una risposta corretta — You must choose a correct answer |
| scelta | noun | choice selection | La scelta è difficile oggi — The choice is difficult today |
| scienza | noun | science | La scienza avanza ogni giorno — Science advances every day |
| scoprire | verb | to discover to find out | Ho scoperto un errore nel testo — I discovered a mistake in the text |
| scrivere | verb | to write | Mi piace scrivere lettere brevi — I like to write short letters |
| scrittura | noun | writing | La sua scrittura è molto chiara — His handwriting is very clear |
| scuola | noun | school | Domani vado a scuola alle otto — Tomorrow I go to school at eight |
| scusa | interjection | sorry excuse | Scusa non volevo disturbarti — Sorry I did not mean to bother you |
| scusare | verb | to excuse to forgive | Per favore scusami per il ritardo — Please excuse me for the delay |
| se | conjunction | if | Se vieni portami un caffè — If you come bring me a coffee |
| si | pronoun | reflexive pronoun one they | Si lava ogni mattina prima di uscire — He washes himself every morning before going out |
| sì | adverb | yes | Hai finito il lavoro? Sì lo ho fatto — Have you finished the work Yes I did it |
| semplice | adjective | simple easy | La soluzione è semplice da capire — The solution is simple to understand |
| sempre | adverb | always | Vado al mercato sempre il sabato — I go to the market always on Saturday |
| senza | preposition | without | Esci senza ombrello oggi — You go out without an umbrella today |
| sentire | verb | to hear to feel | Sento un rumore strano fuori — I hear a strange noise outside |
| serata | noun | evening event | Stasera c è una serata musicale — Tonight there is a music evening |
| sera | noun | evening | La sera mi piace leggere un libro — In the evening I like to read a book |
| serio | adjective | serious | È una questione molto seria — It is a very serious matter |
| servizio | noun | service | Il servizio al ristorante era veloce — The service at the restaurant was fast |
| servire | verb | to serve to be needed | Questo strumento serve per tagliare il pane — This tool serves to cut the bread |
| settimana | noun | week | La settimana prossima parto per Roma — Next week I leave for Rome |
| sedere | verb | to sit | Preferisco sedere vicino alla finestra — I prefer to sit near the window |
| sedia | noun | chair | Metti la sedia accanto al tavolo — Put the chair next to the table |
| segno | noun | sign mark | Ho visto un segno sul muro — I saw a mark on the wall |
| seguire | verb | to follow to attend | Seguo quel corso di fotografia — I attend that photography course |
| secondo | preposition adjective | according to second | Secondo il meteo pioverà domani — According to the weather it will rain tomorrow |
| segreto | noun | secret | Non dire il segreto a nessuno — Do not tell the secret to anyone |
| sicurezza | noun | safety security | La sicurezza stradale è una priorità — Road safety is a priority |
| signore | noun | Mr sir gentleman | Buongiorno signore come sta — Good morning sir how are you |
| signora | noun | Mrs madam lady | La signora Rossi è arrivata tardi — Mrs Rossi arrived late |
| significare | verb | to mean to signify | Cosa significa questa parola in inglese — What does this word mean in English |
| silenzio | noun | silence quiet | Per favore fai silenzio in biblioteca — Please be quiet in the library |
| sistema | noun | system | Il sistema funziona senza problemi oggi — The system works without problems today |
| società | noun | society company | La società moderna cambia rapidamente — Modern society changes quickly |
| sogno | noun | dream | Ho fatto un sogno strano stanotte — I had a strange dream last night |
| sognare | verb | to dream | Sogno di viaggiare in tutto il mondo — I dream of traveling around the world |
| solo | adjective adverb | alone only | Voglio restare solo per riflettere — I want to stay alone to reflect |
| soltanto | adverb | only merely | Ho soltanto dieci euro con me — I only have ten euros with me |
| soluzione | noun | solution answer | Cerchiamo una soluzione al problema insieme — Let us find a solution to the problem together |
| spesa | noun | shopping expense | La spesa settimanale è molto alta — The weekly shopping is very high |
| spendere | verb | to spend | Spendo pochi soldi per il caffè — I spend little money on coffee |
| spazio | noun | space room | C è molto spazio in questa stanza — There is a lot of space in this room |
| spiegare | verb | to explain | Puoi spiegare la regola ancora una volta — Can you explain the rule once more |
| sposare | verb | to marry | Si è deciso di sposare il suo amore — He decided to marry his love |
| sposa | noun | bride wife | La sposa indossa un abito bianco — The bride wears a white dress |
Descriptions
sapere
high Common verb about knowledge Used in many contexts Irregular past participle saputo
sacco
high Informal noun for bag or lots Often used in speech to mean many
sala
medium Common in buildings and events Neutral register
sale
high Everyday noun for salt Basic cooking vocabulary
salire
high Frequent motion verb Irregular with essere in passato prossimo
saltare
high Common physical verb Also used figuratively to mean skip
salto
medium Noun for jump or gap Used in sports and figurative contexts
salutare
high Useful social verb Regular conjugation
saluto
medium Common noun for hello or farewell Used in formal and informal contexts
salute
high Very common noun Also used as a toast and in set phrases
sano
high Common adjective Used for physical and mental health
sapone
medium Everyday household noun
sapore
high Useful for food descriptions Neutral register
scambio
medium Used for trades exchanges and swaps Often formal
scambiare
medium Verb meaning exchange or to mistake Context dependent
scegliere
high Very common verb Irregular in some tenses
scelta
high Common noun Used in personal and official contexts
scienza
high Common academic noun Neutral register
scoprire
high Useful verb for finding or learning new facts
scrivere
high Core verb for producing written text Regular with avere
scrittura
medium Noun for handwriting and style of writing
scuola
high Very common everyday noun Central for learners
scusa
high Useful informal apology Also a noun for excuse
scusare
high Polite verb for apologies and forgiveness
se
high Very common conditional conjunction Essential grammar word
si
high Very common clitic pronoun Used in impersonal and reflexive constructions
sì
high Basic affirmative reply Watch accent to distinguish si pronoun
semplice
high Common adjective Used in many registers
sempre
high Frequent adverb for time Common in speech and writing
senza
high Very common preposition Useful in many expressions
sentire
high Common verb meaning hear or feel Also used for opinion
serata
medium Used for an evening event Often cultural or social
sera
high Everyday noun for evening
serio
high Common adjective Used in formal and informal contexts
servizio
medium Common noun for service and duties
servire
high Useful verb Both service and need meanings
settimana
high Common time expression Essential vocabulary
sedere
medium Verb used for sitting Can be reflexive sediarsi
sedia
high Everyday noun Found in basic vocabulary
segno
medium Useful for symbols signs and marks
seguire
high Common verb for following or attending
secondo
high Versatile word used as preposition or adjective
segreto
high Common noun Used in personal and literary contexts
sicurezza
high Common public and personal noun Often in formal contexts
signore
high Polite form of address Common in service situations
signora
high Polite address for women Used in formal contexts
significare
high Useful verb when learning vocabulary
silenzio
high Common noun Used in public and formal requests
sistema
high Technical and general noun Very common in many domains
società
high Broad noun for society or company Context dependent
sogno
high Common noun for dreams and hopes
sognare
high Common verb for dreaming and wishing
solo
high Versatile word meaning alone or only Common in speech
soltanto
high Synonym of solo Often slightly more formal
soluzione
high Practical noun Used in problems and puzzles
spesa
high Everyday noun for shopping or expense
spendere
high Common verb for money and time
spazio
high Common noun for physical and abstract space
spiegare
high Essential verb for teaching and clarification
sposare
medium Common verb Used in personal and legal contexts
sposa
high Common noun in wedding contexts