Italian Words for Technology: Essential Vocabulary Guide

Whether you're troubleshooting a computer in Rome or discussing the latest smartphone with Italian friends, knowing Italian words for technology is essential in our digital age. This comprehensive guide covers the most important tech vocabulary you'll need for everyday conversations.

Essential Technology Vocabulary

These core Italian words for technology form the foundation of any tech-related conversation. Many Italian technology terms are borrowed from English but adapted to Italian pronunciation and grammar.

Word	Pronunciation	English	Example
il computer	eel kohm-POO-tehr	computer	Il mio computer è molto veloce. (My computer is very fast.)
lo smartphone	loh smart-FOHN	smartphone	Ho dimenticato lo smartphone a casa. (I forgot my smartphone at home.)
il tablet	eel TAH-bleht	tablet	Leggo i libri sul tablet. (I read books on the tablet.)
la tastiera	lah tah-stee-EH-rah	keyboard	Questa tastiera è wireless. (This keyboard is wireless.)
il mouse	eel mows	mouse	Il mouse non funziona bene. (The mouse isn't working well.)
lo schermo	loh SKEHR-moh	screen	Lo schermo del telefono si è rotto. (The phone screen broke.)
la stampante	lah stahm-PAHN-teh	printer	Devo comprare una nuova stampante. (I need to buy a new printer.)
il caricatore	eel kah-ree-kah-TOH-reh	charger	Hai un caricatore per iPhone? (Do you have an iPhone charger?)
la batteria	lah baht-teh-REE-ah	battery	La batteria è quasi scarica. (The battery is almost dead.)
la rete	lah REH-teh	network	La rete Wi-Fi è molto lenta. (The Wi-Fi network is very slow.)
il software	eel SOHFT-wehr	software	Devo aggiornare il software. (I need to update the software.)
l'applicazione (l'app)	lahp-plee-kah-tsee-OH-neh	application/app	Questa app è molto utile. (This app is very useful.)
la password	lah PAHS-vord	password	Non ricordo la password. (I don't remember the password.)
il file	eel fahyl	file	Puoi inviarmi il file? (Can you send me the file?)
la cartella	lah kahr-TEHL-lah	folder	Ho salvato tutto nella cartella. (I saved everything in the folder.)
il sito web	eel SEE-toh wehb	website	Il sito web non si carica. (The website won't load.)

Common Phrases

Beyond individual vocabulary items, these expressions will help you navigate technology-related situations in Italian with confidence.

• Qual è la password del Wi-Fi? (kwahl eh lah PAHS-vord dehl wee-fee) — What's the Wi-Fi password?
• Il mio telefono si è spento. (eel MEE-oh teh-LEH-foh-noh see eh SPEHN-toh) — My phone turned off.
• Non riesco a connettermi a Internet. (nohn ree-EH-skoh ah kohn-NEHT-tehr-mee ah een-tehr-NEHT) — I can't connect to the Internet.
• Devo ricaricare il telefono. (DEH-voh ree-kah-ree-KAH-reh eel teh-LEH-foh-noh) — I need to charge my phone.
• Puoi mandarmi un messaggio? (pwoy mahn-DAHR-mee oon mehs-SAHJ-joh) — Can you send me a message?
• Ho scaricato una nuova app. (oh skah-ree-KAH-toh OO-nah NWOH-vah ahp) — I downloaded a new app.
• Il computer si è bloccato. (eel kohm-POO-tehr see eh blohk-KAH-toh) — The computer froze.
• Devo fare un backup. (DEH-voh FAH-reh oon BAHK-ahp) — I need to make a backup.
• Clicca su questo link. (KLEEK-kah soo KWEH-stoh leenk) — Click on this link.
• Hai ricevuto la mia email? (ahy ree-cheh-VOO-toh lah MEE-ah ee-meyl) — Did you receive my email?

Usage Notes

Understanding how Italians use technology vocabulary involves some important grammatical and cultural considerations:

Gender of borrowed words: English technology terms adopted into Italian typically take masculine gender. Words like il computer, il mouse, il software, and il file are all masculine. However, some words take feminine gender based on their Italian equivalent or ending, such as la email (sometimes l'email) because posta (mail) is feminine.

Plural forms: Borrowed English words generally don't change in the plural. You say i computer (the computers), i file (the files), not i computers or i files. The article changes, but the noun stays the same.

Italian alternatives: While many Italians use English tech terms, there are Italian equivalents that you might encounter, especially in formal writing or with older speakers:

• il calcolatore instead of il computer
• la posta elettronica instead of l'email
• il collegamento instead of il link
• scaricare (to download) — this Italian verb is widely used

Verbs with technology: Common verbs used with technology include accendere (to turn on), spegnere (to turn off), ricaricare (to recharge), scaricare (to download), caricare (to upload), and aggiornare (to update).

Practice Sentences

Test your understanding of Italian words for technology with these example sentences:

• Devo comprare un nuovo caricatore perché il mio si è rotto.
  I need to buy a new charger because mine broke.
• Puoi condividere lo schermo durante la videochiamata?
  Can you share your screen during the video call?
• Ho installato l'ultimo aggiornamento del software ieri sera.
  I installed the latest software update last night.
• La stampante ha finito l'inchiostro.
  The printer ran out of ink.
• Non trovo la cartella con i documenti importanti.
  I can't find the folder with the important documents.
• Il sito web richiede una password sicura.
  The website requires a secure password.
• Questa applicazione consuma troppa batteria.
  This app uses too much battery.
• Ho dimenticato di salvare il file prima di spegnere il computer.
  I forgot to save the file before turning off the computer.
• La rete del mio ufficio è sempre molto veloce.
  My office network is always very fast.
• Preferisco leggere le notizie sul tablet piuttosto che sullo smartphone.
  I prefer reading the news on a tablet rather than on a smartphone.