oratore

Oratore is the Italian noun for a person who speaks publicly with skill, especially in rhetoric or persuasion. The term derives from the Latin orator, itself from oratio (speech), with the agent suffix -atore. The masculine form is l'oratore; the feminine is l'oratrice. The plural forms are gli oratori (for males or mixed) and le oratrici (for females).

In usage, oratore can denote a public speaker in political assemblies, courts, religious settings, or literary circles. In classical contexts, the term describes eloquent speakers such as statesmen, lawyers, and preachers who excel in persuasive delivery. The related field is oratoria, the art of public speaking or rhetoric, including techniques of delivery, argumentation, style, and memory.

In modern Italian, the term is neutral and widely employed in journalism, academic discussion of rhetoric, and biographical writing. It may appear as a profession or role: “un noto oratore” or “ha un grande oratore.” The feminine form oratrice is correct and used when referring to a female speaker, though it is somewhat less common in everyday speech. The term is distinct from predicatore (preacher) and can be used metaphorically to describe anyone capable of persuasive speech.

See also oratoria, rhetoric; and the English cognate orator.