False Friends — Business

Italian 'controllo' leans toward 'inspection/check' more than 'power over'. 'Avere il controllo di una società' means holding a controlling stake, which is close to English. But 'remote control' is 'telecomando', not 'controllo remoto'.

Largely equivalent, but 'avere interesse a fare qualcosa' means to have a reason/motivation to do something (it is in your interest), not simply to be curious about it.

Largely equivalent in financial contexts. Note that 'netto' also means 'clean/sharp' in everyday Italian (taglio netto = clean cut), which has no financial connotation.

'Piano' means both plan and floor/storey. 'Piano terra' = ground floor, 'secondo piano' = second floor. In a business context 'piano' for strategy is correct, but it shares the word with building floors — context is essential.

Largely equivalent, but in formal Italian accounting the term for net profit is 'utile' (or 'utile netto'). 'Profitto' is broader and includes non-financial benefit (trarre profitto = to benefit from something).

Mostly equivalent. Note: 'fare una proposta' in Italian can mean making a business proposal or a marriage proposal — context matters.

In English 'reunion' implies people who were separated and are meeting again. In Italian 'riunione' is the standard word for any meeting, including a routine business meeting. Do not assume emotional overtones.

'Stipendio' is the normal word for a full monthly salary — much more than an English 'stipend'. Using 'stipend' for an Italian professional salary significantly undervalues the role.

In Italian, 'vendita' is the standard word for a sale or the act of selling. English 'vendor' is now widely used in B2B contexts to mean supplier/contractor, while 'venditore' in Italian more specifically means salesperson. In Italian procurement 'fornitore' is preferred for vendor/supplier.

'Conto' covers bank account, restaurant bill, and counting. 'Conto corrente' = current account. 'Fare i conti' = to do the accounting/calculations. Very versatile in business Italian.

'Lancio' means launch or throw, not lance. The weapon is 'lancia'. In marketing Italian, 'lancio del prodotto' is the standard term for a product launch.

'Notizia' means a news item, not a notice or announcement. A notice (as in 'notice period' or 'legal notice') is 'preavviso' or 'avviso'. Confusing these in HR or legal contexts causes errors.

Mostly equivalent. Note 'ordine del giorno' (agenda for a meeting) and 'all'ordine del giorno' (on the agenda / very common nowadays). In professional guilds, 'ordine' refers to the official body (Ordine degli Avvocati = Bar Association).

Largely equivalent. Minor trap: in Italian 'percentuale' is also used as a noun for someone's cut or share (ti do una percentuale = I'll give you a percentage/cut of the deal), more colloquially than in English.

'Stagione' and 'stazione' are easily mixed. In retail and tourism, 'alta stagione' = high season and 'bassa stagione' = low season are important business terms.

Largely equivalent. Note that 'ufficio' in Italian commonly refers to a department rather than just a room (ufficio HR, ufficio commerciale). 'D'ufficio' means officially/by default (e.g., avvocato d'ufficio = court-appointed lawyer).

In Italian 'agenda' is a personal diary or planner. For a meeting agenda say 'ordine del giorno'. Saying 'l'agenda della riunione' sounds strange in formal Italian.

Mostly equivalent, but 'capitale' as an adjective means 'chief/main' (errore capitale = grave error), not 'uppercase'. For uppercase letter say 'maiuscola'.

'Direttore' is used broadly for any managerial head, while in English 'director' usually implies board-level seniority. A 'sales manager' in Italian is often 'direttore commerciale', which sounds more senior than the English title implies.

'Fattura' means invoice, not factory. Mixing them up in written communication could cause serious confusion in procurement or accounting contexts.

The primary meaning of 'firma' in modern Italian is 'signature'. While 'firma' can mean a prestigious fashion house (una firma del lusso), it does not generally mean a business firm. Use 'azienda' or 'società'.

'Fondo' can mean fund but it also means bottom/background. 'In fondo' means at the bottom or in the end. Do not confuse with the English verb 'to fund' which is 'finanziare'.

'Gestione' sounds like 'gestation' but means management/running. 'Gestazione' is the correct Italian word for biological or figurative gestation.

'Incasso' is not the same as 'in cash'. It refers to the total amount of money collected from sales. Paying in cash is 'pagare in contanti'.

'Magazzino' sounds like 'magazine' but means warehouse or stockroom. A magazine (publication) is 'rivista' or 'giornale'. Do not mix them up when discussing logistics.

'Mansione' has nothing to do with a house. In HR and labour law it specifically refers to the tasks and duties attached to a job role.

In economics, 'offerta' means supply (not just an offer). Confusing 'offerta' and 'domanda' (demand) with their literal English meanings leads to reversed economic statements.

'Ordinare' is the normal word for placing an order with a supplier. In English 'to ordain' is almost exclusively religious. In Italian the same verb covers both meanings.

'Patente' most commonly means driving licence. For an invention patent use 'brevetto'. Saying 'patente' in an IP meeting will cause confusion.

As a noun, 'preventivo' means a price estimate or quotation — not 'preventive measure'. Misreading a sentence with 'preventivo' as 'preventive' in a procurement context causes serious errors.

'Rata' means instalment, not rate. The interest rate is 'tasso di interesse'. Confusing the two leads to misunderstanding loan documents.

'Registro' covers most senses of register/registry. However a cash register is 'cassa' or 'registratore di cassa', not 'registro'.

'Società' means both 'society' and 'company'. In business Italian 'società' is the standard legal term for a company (S.r.l., S.p.A., etc.). English speakers might miss this and use only 'compagnia' or 'azienda'.

'Tasse' can mean university fees as well as taxes. In Italian tax law, 'imposte' (e.g., IRPEF, IRES) are direct taxes, while 'tasse' are fees for specific state services. In everyday speech both get called 'tasse'.

'Valuta' means currency, not value. The word for value is 'valore'. In bank statements 'data valuta' means the value date (when a transaction is effective), not the date something was valued.

'Vantaggio' means advantage broadly. In sport and business it is very common. 'Vantage' in English almost only appears in the phrase 'vantage point'. The words are etymologically related but used differently.

'Cassa' means cash desk or cash box, not case. 'Caso' is the word for case. In finance, 'flusso di cassa' = cash flow, not flow of cases.

Mostly equivalent. However, 'deposito' also means warehouse (luogo di deposito), which English speakers may not expect. 'Deposito bagagli' is a left-luggage facility, not a bank.

Mostly equivalent. However, in Italian banking 'garanzia' is widely used for collateral/security on a loan — a meaning English speakers might not immediately associate with 'guarantee'.

'Importo' means the monetary amount, NOT import/importation. Confusing these in an invoice or contract is a serious error. 'Importazione' is the correct word for importing goods.

In English 'increment' often implies a small, regular, step-by-step increase. In Italian 'incremento' is used for any growth or rise, including large ones. Do not assume small scale.

Largely equivalent. The hidden trap: the verb 'investire' also means to run someone over with a vehicle (ha investito un pedone = he ran over a pedestrian). Context is critical when using the verb.

'Lordo' means gross (before tax) and also dirty/filthy. It does not mean lord. In payroll documents 'lordo' vs 'netto' is one of the most important distinctions.

'Marchio' means brand or trademark, not march. In IP law 'marchio registrato' is a registered trademark. Do not confuse with 'marciare' (to march).

'Merce' sounds like 'mercy' but means goods or merchandise. These are completely different. In logistics and trade documents 'merce' is extremely common.

'Mutuo' as a noun specifically means a mortgage or a bank loan. As an adjective it means mutual. English speakers expecting 'mutual fund' will not find it here — that is 'fondo comune di investimento'.

Largely related, but in Italian 'obbligare' means to compel by rule, while in English 'to oblige' can mean to do a favour (Would you oblige me?). The Italian equivalent of that favour sense is 'fare un piacere'.

Mostly equivalent. However, 'opportunità' also carries the sense of appropriateness/timeliness (from 'opportuno' = appropriate). In business Italian 'valutare l'opportunità di' means to assess whether something is appropriate/advisable, not just to find an opportunity.

'Pacchetto' means package or bundle. In finance 'pacchetto azionario' is a block of shares. In HR, 'pacchetto retributivo' is a compensation package. Recognising these compound uses is important.

'Partita IVA' is the Italian VAT registration number — every freelancer and business needs one. 'Partita' in bookkeeping is a line entry. None of these mean party (social event) or partition.

As a noun, 'personale' means staff/employees (as in HR: gestione del personale). As an adjective it means personal. English speakers may overlook the noun sense and not recognize 'gestione del personale' as meaning HR management.

In Italian bureaucracy and law, 'pratica' very commonly means an administrative file or dossier. English speakers expecting 'practice' in the professional sense may miss this usage entirely.

'Premio' covers prize, bonus, and insurance premium. In HR, 'premio di produzione' is a performance bonus. 'Premio' as an adjective (prodotto premio) means a top-of-the-range product — similar to English 'premium'.

Largely equivalent. In Italian law, 'procedura concorsuale' means insolvency proceedings — a technical meaning English speakers may not anticipate from the word 'procedure'.

Mostly equivalent. However, in Italian labour law 'premi di produttività' (productivity bonuses) have a specific tax-advantaged status. Understanding this helps in salary negotiations.

In Italian 'quota' covers many meanings: share in a company (quota societaria), membership fee (quota associativa), sales quota, and even altitude (quota di volo = flight altitude). Context is essential.

In Italian 'responsabile' is frequently used as a noun meaning the person in charge (il responsabile del reparto = the department manager). English speakers may not realise 'il responsabile' means a manager/head, not just someone who is responsible.

'Scadenza' sounds like 'cadence/cadenza' but means deadline or expiry date — two completely different meanings. 'Data di scadenza' is expiry date on any document or product.

'Scontro' means clash or collision, not discount. 'Sconto' is the word for discount. Mixing them up in a negotiation is embarrassing at best.

'Sede legale' = registered office and 'sede operativa' = operational headquarters. These are key terms in Italian company registration. Do not confuse with 'cedere' (to transfer/give up).

In Italian 'tariffa' is the general word for a rate, price, or fare (taxi fare, hourly rate, phone tariff). In English 'tariff' more specifically means an import duty. In Italian the import tax is 'dazio' or 'tariffa doganale'.

'Termine' is highly versatile: it means deadline, term (of a contract), or a word/term. 'Termini e condizioni' = terms and conditions. 'Entro i termini' = within the deadline. Very frequent in contracts.

English 'valor' means bravery/courage (mainly archaic/military). Italian 'valore' primarily means value/worth in everyday and business use. The bravery meaning exists in Italian too but is literary. Confusing valor/valore in finance leads to errors.

'Versamento' means making a payment or depositing money. It has nothing to do with verse or version. 'Versare' (to pay/deposit) also means to pour liquid — context distinguishes the two.

'Attivo' in accounting means asset, not just 'active'. Confusing the two can cause serious misreading of financial statements.

In Italian 'commissione' primarily means a committee or an errand. For a salesperson's commission, Italians often say 'provvigione'. Overlap exists but the default sense differs.

'Compenso' is a professional fee, not compensation for damages. For damage compensation use 'risarcimento'. HR 'compensation packages' are called 'pacchetti retributivi'.

This is one of the most dangerous false friends in business Italian. 'Eventuale' means 'possible/potential', NOT 'eventual/final'. Translating 'eventual agreement' as 'eventuale accordo' implies the agreement might not happen at all.

In Italian HR contexts 'liquidazione' very commonly means the lump-sum severance payment (TFR) received when employment ends — not company liquidation. Confusing the two is a major HR/legal false friend.

In accounting, 'passivo' means liabilities — the opposite of 'attivo' (assets). English speakers expecting 'passive' in the grammatical sense will be confused by financial statements.

'Provvigione' specifically means a sales agent's commission percentage. It does not mean a provision in the legal or accounting sense. Use 'accantonamento' for financial provisions.

Largely equivalent. However, in Italian 'speculazione' carries a strongly negative connotation (profiteering, exploitation). Using it casually in a business pitch could imply dishonesty.

'Sussidio' means financial support/subsidy, not a subsidiary company. For a subsidiary use 'filiale' or 'società consociata'.

'Ricavo' sounds like 'recoup/recovery' but means revenue or proceeds from sales. Do not confuse with 'recupero' (recovery). In accounting, 'ricavi' are the top-line revenues.

In accounting, 'utile' means net profit. As an adjective it means useful. Neither meaning is 'utility' in the English sense (public service company or philosophical usefulness). Use 'utilità' for that.

Largely equivalent. In Italian 'dividendo' is also the number being divided in arithmetic (as in English). The financial meaning is identical.

In Italian accounting, 'esercizio' (or 'esercizio fiscale') means the financial/fiscal year — a very common false friend in business writing. It does not mean exercise in the fitness sense primarily.

In Italian business, 'pagare a forfait' means to pay a fixed lump sum for a service. This is the dominant commercial meaning. The sporting meaning (withdrawing, forfeiting) also exists but is secondary.

In Italian business, 'operativo' means operational/working. In English 'operative' can mean a spy/agent or the key word in a clause. These differences matter in contracts and intelligence/security contexts.

'Organigramma' is a false friend by similarity to 'organism' + 'anagram'. It specifically means an organisational chart showing hierarchy. Not to be confused with a flowchart ('diagramma di flusso').

'Pareggio' in accounting means break-even (revenues = costs). In sport it means a draw. 'Parità' is equality/parity. Do not confuse them in financial reporting.

In accounting Italian, 'passività' means liabilities (debts, obligations) — not passive behaviour. Mixing up the two meanings in a balance sheet discussion is a serious false friend.

'Soci' are the shareholders or partners in a company. 'Socio' = business partner or company member. Do not confuse with 'sociale' (social). 'Capitale sociale' = share capital, not social capital in the sociological sense.

In finance, 'titolo' means a financial security (share, bond). In everyday use it means a title or job designation. English speakers may know 'title' but miss the financial instrument meaning of 'titolo'.

In Italian law, 'transazione' primarily means an out-of-court settlement (ending a dispute by mutual agreement). In business more generally it means a financial transaction. English speakers may default to only the financial transaction meaning.

'Appalto' sounds like 'appall' but means a public procurement contract. 'Codice degli appalti' is the Italian public procurement code. Crucial in public sector and construction business.

'Bilancio' in Italian covers the annual financial statements (bilancio d'esercizio), the balance sheet, and the public/company budget (bilancio dello Stato). English 'balance' is simply 'saldo' (bank balance) or 'equilibrio'. Very frequent source of confusion in Italian finance.

'Procura' as a noun is a legal document granting someone authority to act on another's behalf — very different from the English verb 'to procure' (to obtain/buy). In legal and business Italian this distinction is critical.

'Emittente' in finance means the party issuing securities. In media it means a TV or radio broadcaster. Neither meaning matches the technical English 'emitter' (electronics/physics).

Closely related in meaning. The noun 'indennizzo' is the payment made; the verb is 'indennizzare'. In insurance contracts this term appears frequently and is essential to understand correctly.

'Insoluto' in business means unpaid/outstanding (of a debt), not unsolved or insoluble. Confusing it in credit control contexts causes errors.

'Morosità' is a business/legal term for being in default or arrears on payments. It has nothing to do with being moody or gloomy. 'Moroso' (adjective) means a debtor in default.

In Italian contract law 'recesso' is the right to withdraw from a contract (diritto di recesso). This is used constantly in consumer protection and B2B contracts. English 'recess' does not carry this meaning.

'Rendiconto' is a formal financial report. It is not a verb but a noun. 'Rendiconto finanziario' = cash flow statement / financial report. Very common in Italian accounting documents.

'Ristorno' is a commercial term for a rebate or volume discount paid after the fact. It is not a refund (rimborso) or a return (reso). Very common in wholesale and distribution contracts.

'Subentro' is a legal/contract term meaning stepping into another party's position (e.g., taking over a lease or contract). It does not mean subcontracting, which is 'subappalto'.

In Italian legal and business language, 'sussistere' means to be present/to apply/to exist (of conditions). English 'to subsist' means to survive on very little. These sound alike but mean very different things.

'Visura' is a bureaucratic and legal term for an official extract from a public registry (company register, land register). It is not 'vision' or 'visual'. Essential in Italian due diligence and business setup.

'Accantonamento' is a standard accounting term for setting aside a provision or reserve for future liabilities. Do not confuse it with 'accumulation' (accumulo) or military 'cantonment'.

In Italian 'ammortamento' covers both depreciation (of tangible assets like machinery) and amortisation (of intangible assets like patents). English distinguishes the two terms more strictly.