lufficiale

Lufficiale is a term in Italian that typically appears as the elided form l’ufficiale, meaning “the officer” or “the official.” It can refer to a person who holds an office or rank, or to the office or position itself, depending on context. The noun encompasses both military and civil meanings, and may function interchangeably with the adjective form ufficiale when describing something official.

Etymology and usage. The word derives from Latin officium, through the medieval and early modern development of ufficiale from officialis. In Italian, the primary senses are the military or police officer (for example, un ufficiale, gli ufficiali) and a person who holds a public or governmental office (un ufficiale di stato, un ufficiale giudiziario). The term also appears in phrases like documento ufficiale or comunicato ufficiale to denote authenticity or authoritativeness.

Grammar and gender. Ufficiale is a masculine noun that also serves as the feminine form in many contexts (the feminine singular is un’ufficiale; plural is le ufficiali for feminine and gli ufficiali for masculine or mixed groups). The definite article l’ is used before vowels, giving l’ufficiale for “the officer/official.” As an adjective, ufficiale agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, yielding official documents (documento ufficiale) and official representatives (rappresentante ufficiale).

Context and nuance. In military usage, ufficiale commonly refers to commissioned officers. In civil administration, it denotes officials such as civil servants or public officers. The term also appears in legal and administrative language to emphasize formal authority, legitimacy, or status.

See also. Official and officium are related roots; ufficio and ufficialità discuss offices and official status more broadly.