Business Vocabulary and Expressions Part 2

By Sigrid Lee

Let's look at some of the other roles people have in business and in the workplace. Check out Part 1 to learn about how to "go to work" in Italian and about different types of employees.

To indicate the boss In Italian, we use one word for "head": il capo.

No no, no, non è il mio ragazzo, lui è il mio capo,

No, no, no. He's not my boyfriend, he's my boss,

è il commissario Manara.

he's Commissioner Manara.

Captions 29-30, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP5 - Il Raggio Verde - Part 8
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Of course, we have the cognate direttore that can indicate the head of a company and is used much like "director." But it is often used to mean "manager" or "managing director."

Mauro Barale, direttore delle vendite.

Mauro Barale, sales manager.

-Barale, piacere.

-Barale, a pleasure.

Lui è il nostro nuovo direttore generale.

He's our new general director.

Captions 26-27, Adriano Olivetti - La forza di un sogno Ep.2
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If the director is the owner, the director might also be called il titolare (the owner, the head). Titolare is a term often used when it would make sense for the head of a company to also be the owner.

Ah, ma è la titolare dell'agenzia che organizza i matrimoni.

Ah, so you are the head of the agency that organizes weddings.

Caption 19, Sposami - EP 5 - Part 2
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In the previous example, Nora is the head of the agency. Technically, her aunt is likely the owner, but in practical terms, it's Nora. Nora is a woman, so the feminine article is used, even though the noun titolare is basically masculine. The term titolare can be used loosely because we often don't know if someone actually owns the company or not. The other, more general word for "owner" is proprietario.

When a business has multiple departments, each department is called un reparto, so a department manager or supervisor may be called il caporeparto. In a hospital, a ward is called un reparto as well. In a department store, the same term, reparto, is used for a given department or section.

Poi dall'amministrazione sono passata,

Then, from administration I moved,

sempre nel reparto amministrativo, al recupero crediti.

still in the administrative department, to debt collection.

Caption 1, Antonella - La mia storia - Part 2
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In English, "responsible" is an adjective. But its cognate responsabile is also used as a noun to describe the person who is in charge of something, such as un reparto (department).

Poi, naturalmente, in assenza di Manara, il responsabile è Lei.

Then, naturally, in the absence of Manara, you're the one in charge.

Caption 29, Il Commissario Manara - S2EP8 - Fuori servizio - Part 2
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Instead of il responsabile, we might see or hear l'addetto, which basically means the same thing: someone assigned to that role. Just like responsabile, it can be used as either an adjective or a noun.

Lavorava qui, era addetto alla fermentazione del vino.

He worked here. He was in charge of wine fermentation.

Caption 42, Il Commissario Manara - S2EP8 - Fuori servizio - Part 1
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Let's add to the roles one can have in the workforce. When we're talking about a shop, the salesperson or sales clerk is called il commesso or la commessa, depending on the sex of the person.

Allora, tornate dalla commessa e chiedetele

So, go back to the saleswoman and ask

se ultimamente ha venduto 'sto [questo]

if she has lately sold this

profumo a qualcuno di più adulto.

perfume to someone more adult.

Captions 35-36, Il Commissario Manara - S2EP3 - Delitto tra le lenzuola - Part 9
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