giornaliera

Giornaliera is an Italian word that functions as a feminine noun and as a feminine form of the adjective giornaliero. It is tied to the concept of the day and has several related senses used in different contexts.

As a noun, giornaliera primarily denotes a person hired on a daily basis, i.e., a day laborer. The masculine counterpart is giornaliero. The term is commonly used in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and seasonal work to refer to workers paid by the day. In this use, the gendered form reflects the worker’s gender, with una giornaliera referring to a female day laborer and un giornaliero to a male one. The word can also appear in references to the daily nature of the work arrangement itself.

Giornaliera can also indicate the daily wage or pay for a day of work, though more common expressions for this sense are paga giornaliera or paghe giornaliere. In these contexts, the focus is on the compensation rather than the person performing the work.

As an adjective, giornaliera describes something that occurs daily or relates to a day. It is used in phrases such as spese giornaliere (daily expenses) or attività giornaliera (daily activity). The term thus functions to convey regularity over a day-by-day basis.

Etymology: giornaliera derives from giorno, day, with the suffixes -al and -iera forming the feminine noun and adjective. Related forms include giornaliero (masculine) and giornaliera (feminine). See also related terms such as giornaliero, giornata, and paga.