A2🔤 Letters B & C
Italian word
cortese
polite, courteous, kind
Looks like
courteous
polite and respectful
⚠️ The trap
Cortese and courteous are near-equivalents. The subtle trap: in formal Italian letters 'Gentile' or 'Spettabile' are used more than 'Cortese' as a salutation. And 'cortesia' means courtesy/kindness. These are not false friends but learners often misuse the formal register.
To say "polite and respectful" in Italian:
cortese (near-equivalent)
"cortese" in English means:
polite, courteous, kind
Example
"Il cameriere era molto cortese e disponibile."
"The waiter was very polite and helpful."
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