vaticano

Vatican

adjective vah-tee-KAH-noh Rare

Origin: From Latin Mons Vaticanus (Vatican Hill), of uncertain pre-Latin origin.

Usage Note

Vaticano as an adjective means 'of or relating to the Vatican': i Musei Vaticani (the Vatican Museums), lo Stato Vaticano (Vatican City). As a proper noun, il Vaticano refers to the Holy See or Vatican City. The adjective agrees in gender: vaticana (f).

Examples

"I Musei Vaticani attirano milioni di visitatori."

Natural Translation

The Vatican Museums attract millions of visitors.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Tu vs Lei: Formal & Informal "You" in Italian

When in doubt, use Lei. Here's exactly when to use tu vs Lei in Italian — the who-to-use-with map, the verb and possessive shifts, and how to switch politely.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Numbers 1 to 100: Count Like a Local

Learn Italian numbers 1 to 100 by mastering 0-20, the tens, and 3 spelling rules so you can generate any number from ventuno to novantanove on demand.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read