locale

local

adjective loh-KAH-leh Common

Origin: From Latin localis, from locus (place).

Usage Note

Locale as a noun (un locale) means a premises, venue, or room: un locale notturno is a nightclub. As an adjective it has a single form for both masculine and feminine: il mercato locale / la tradizione locale. The plural for both genders is locali. This dual noun/adjective use can confuse learners.

Examples

"Il mercato locale apre la domenica mattina."

Natural Translation

The local market opens on Sunday morning.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Avere Fame: Why Italians "Have" Hunger, Not "Are"

In Italian you say Ho fame (I have hunger), never sono fame. Learn the avere + noun rule for fame, freddo, paura, age, and the sono caldo trap to avoid.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Buongiorno, Ciao or Salve? Italian Greetings Made Easy

When in doubt, say salve and mirror the reply. Here's how to pick between buongiorno, buonasera, ciao and salve so your Italian greetings never sound rude.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Dialects vs Standard Italian: A Guide

Standard Italian works everywhere, so relax: this three-layer guide to Italian dialects vs standard Italian shows what to ignore and what to notice.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Prepositions: A, In, Di, Da, Su Made Simple

Cities take a, countries take in, origin is di, agents are da. Master the five Italian prepositions a, in, di, da, su and their contractions fast.

June 5, 2026 6 min read