Italian honorifics

In Italy, when people speak to each other, they use certain words to show respect and politeness. These words are called honorifics.

For example, when you address someone who is older than you or has a higher social status, you would use the honorific "Signore" for a man or "Signora" for a woman. You can think of it like saying "Mr." or "Mrs." in English.

There are also more formal and respectful ways to address people, such as "Eccellenza" for someone who holds an important position in government or "Maestro" for a talented artist or musician.

It's important to know the right honorific to use in different situations, because using the wrong one can be disrespectful. But don't worry, if you're not sure what honorific to use, you can always ask someone or err on the side of being more polite.