passeggero

Passeggero is an Italian noun meaning a person who is transported by a vehicle or vessel, typically in a passenger capacity rather than as crew or operator. The term is used for people who travel on trains, buses, ships, aircraft, and other forms of public or private transport. The feminine form is passeggera, and the plural is passeggeri, which can refer to groups that include people of all genders.

Etymology and sense. Passeggero derives from passeggio, meaning a walk or ride, with the agentive suffix -ero. The word emphasizes the passive role of the person being carried or accommodated by the transport service rather than the person operating the vehicle. In practice, passeggeri are the customers or travelers who use the service, while crew or staff perform the service.

Usage and context. In modern contexts, passeggeri are identified on tickets, manifests, and boarding procedures. The term appears in railway timetables, airline passenger lists, and maritime passenger registers. Discussions of passenger rights—such as compensation for delays, safety provisions, and accessibility—often use the plural term passeggeri or the phrase diritti dei passeggeri to denote protections owed to travelers.

Relation to related terms. While passeggero describes someone who is transported, the word viaggiatore is sometimes used to denote a person who travels more generally or on a longer journey, not necessarily as a passenger on a specific vehicle. In everyday usage, passeggeri is the standard term to refer to people occupying seats or space in transit services.