Gentile Signora Rossi,

Dear Ms Rossi,

Pronunciation

'Gentile' = jen-TI-le; the final 'e' is always pronounced in Italian.

When to use it

Use as the opening salutation in any formal email to a woman whose name you know. It is the safest and most universally accepted greeting in Italian professional writing.

What it means

'Gentile' literally means 'kind' but functions as 'Dear' in correspondence. 'Signora' covers both 'Mrs' and 'Ms', making it ideal when marital status is unknown. For men use 'Signor' (no final 'e'). For doctors or professors, replace with their title: 'Gentile Dottoressa Rossi'.

Variations

Egregio Signor Bianchi,

Dear Mr Bianchi,

Even more formal; used for officials or senior executives

Gentili Signori,

Dear Sirs/Dear all,

When writing to a company or a group

Buongiorno,

Good morning,

Neutral opening for semi-formal emails within a company

Mini Dialogue

Gentile Signora Rossi, mi chiamo Marco Belli e lavoro per la società Alfa Srl. Vorrei fissare un appuntamento per discutere la nostra proposta. In attesa di un suo gentile riscontro, Distinti saluti, Marco Belli

Dear Ms Rossi, My name is Marco Belli and I work for Alfa Srl. I would like to arrange a meeting to discuss our proposal. Awaiting your kind reply, Yours sincerely, Marco Belli

Cultural Note

In Italy, professional titles (Dottore, Ingegnere, Avvocato) are used far more routinely in correspondence than in English-speaking countries. When in doubt, use the title — omitting it can be perceived as disrespectful.

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