carabiniere: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, technical
Quick answer
What does “carabiniere” mean?
A member of the Italian national gendarmerie, a military corps with civil police duties.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of the Italian national gendarmerie, a military corps with civil police duties.
Specifically refers to a singular soldier or officer of the Carabinieri force, which is one of Italy's national police forces, known for its historical military origin and distinctive uniform, including a characteristic hat with a large brim or a ceremonial helmet with feathers. In broader contexts, it can represent Italian law enforcement authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally rare in both varieties and used primarily in contexts discussing Italian society, travel, or European affairs. No significant spelling or usage differences.
Connotations
Conveys an Italian cultural or institutional context. Might evoke associations with tourism, history, or European Union law enforcement cooperation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general English. Most likely encountered in travel guides, historical texts, news reports about Italy, or discussions of European policing.
Grammar
How to Use “carabiniere” in a Sentence
[The/An/Italian] carabiniere + [verb] (e.g., stopped the car)spoke to/asked/approached a carabiniereVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carabiniere” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb in English.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb in English.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective in English. Use 'Carabinieri' attributively: 'the Carabinieri corps'.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective in English. Use 'Carabinieri' attributively: 'a Carabinieri station'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Unlikely, unless discussing Italian security for an event or location.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or European studies texts discussing Italian institutions.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by tourists or expatriates recounting experiences in Italy.
Technical
Used in legal, law enforcement, or military comparative studies focusing on European systems.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carabiniere”
- Using it as a general term for any police officer (it is specifically Italian).
- Misspelling: 'carabinere', 'carabinniere'.
- Incorrect plural: using 'carabinieris' instead of 'carabinieri'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Italy has multiple police forces. The Carabinieri are a national gendarmerie, a military corps with police duties. The 'Polizia di Stato' is the other main civil national police force.
A common anglicised pronunciation is /ˌkærəbɪnˈjɛəreɪ/ (ka-ra-bin-YAIR-ay). The Italian pronunciation is closer to /karabiˈnjɛːre/.
No. 'Carabiniere' is a specific term for a member of the Italian Carabinieri. For similar forces in other countries (e.g., France, Spain), terms like 'gendarme' or 'Guardia Civil' are used.
When referring to the formal title or the institution (Carabinieri), it is often capitalised. When used generically ('we asked a carabiniere'), lower case is acceptable, but capitalisation is common to mark it as a proper noun.
A member of the Italian national gendarmerie, a military corps with civil police duties.
Carabiniere is usually formal, technical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the English use of this loanword.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAREER-BUILDER in a fancy Italian uniform – a 'cara-biniere' builds his career in the Italian police force.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often framed as a 'pillar' or 'symbol' of Italian state authority.
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct plural form of 'carabiniere'?