Signorina

Signorina is an Italian noun and courtesy title meaning “Miss” or “young lady,” used as a polite form of address before a woman’s surname or full name. It derives from signore (sir) with the feminine suffix -ina, and historically signified a young or unmarried woman in relation to a male head of household or the social hierarchy.

Usage and status. In contemporary Italian, signorina is less common in everyday speech, where signora is often used as a polite form of address regardless of marital status, or the person’s name is used alone. Signorina remains more likely in formal etiquette, literary language, or when the speaker intends to emphasize youth or an unmarried status. It can appear before a surname (Signorina Bianchi) or, in casual reference, on its own to denote a young woman (la signorina). The plural form is signorine.

Differences from related terms. Signora is the standard courtesy title for adult women and is often preferred in modern usage. Signorina thus functions as a gendered counterpart to signore, with connotations of youth and unmarried status that are increasingly deemphasized in contemporary contexts.

In culture. The term appears in literature, film, and songs to evoke traditional manners or historical settings. It is also encountered in hospitality or service settings as a formal address, though its use has declined in favor of more neutral forms.

See also: Signora, Signore, Señorita (cross-language comparison).