ufficio
/ˈuf.fi.tʃo/A room or building where administrative or clerical work is done.
L'ufficio del sindaco è al secondo piano.
The mayor's office is on the second floor.
In Italian, 'ufficio' can refer to any office space, including government offices, corporate offices, or administrative departments.
A government department or agency responsible for a specific function.
L'ufficio delle imposte ha emesso una nuova circolare.
The tax office has issued a new circular.
Commonly used in legal and administrative contexts.
Collocations
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Office vs. Desk
In Italian, 'ufficio' refers to the room or space, while 'scrivania' refers to the desk. Avoid confusing the two.
⚡Gold Rule
Gender Agreement
Always use the masculine article ('il', 'un') with 'ufficio' (e.g., 'il mio ufficio', 'un ufficio moderno').
📖Word Origin
From Latin 'officium' (duty, service), derived from 'opus' (work) + 'facere' (to do). The sense of a place where work is done developed in the 14th century.
📝Usage Notes
In Italian, 'ufficio' is a masculine noun. It is often used in compound forms like 'ufficio postale' (post office) or 'ufficio turistico' (tourist office).