„Dottore is the word that comes before a person's name and says that person is Italian."
Journalist & writer Indro Montanelli (*1909, †2001)
In the land of world-famous artworks and fantastic cuisine, you can't simply be addressed as "Mr" or "Mrs". Mamma mia, the status! Why Italy wants its "Dottore"so loves...
The lawyer is of course addressed as "Avvocata" Rossi, the engineer as Ingenere Berlusconi, the teacher as a "Professora" Ferrari. They are all in Italy anyway "Dottori":
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As soon as you have completed your Bachelor's degree, you are entitled to the title in Italy "Dottore" or "Dottoressa". Regardless of this: Especially in central and southern Italy, it is good manners to address people accordingly.
Makes sense: when you're in Italy with dottore, dottoressa If you are addressed, you feel directly respected and are ready to talk. Quite different from "Hey, you there" or "Hello, miss". Logical.
A little politeness and respect, optionally also flattery, does not hurt. Regardless of whether you are an (unofficial) parking attendant or a (semi-legal) watch salesman: in Italy, services are generally offered to a dottore or a dottoressa an.
By the way: the actual doctoral title, as it is known worldwide, in Italy is the Dottore di ricerca (abbreviated Dott. Ric.). In Italy, you need a doctorate to do this. That takes at least three years.
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...a small drop of bitterness for all those who are proud of their (university) diploma: In Italy, a Diploma not really worth much. In Italy means Diploma only advanced technical college entrance qualification...
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University life in Italy: A little excursion...
With the University of Bologna, Italy has the oldest university in Europe. The university was founded as early as 1088. Even in the Middle Ages, exchange students came to Italy to do research. Today, a good 80,000 young people study in Bologna.
In Italy there are 66 state Università, 4 state Politecnici (technical universities) and 29 private, state-recognised universities. In addition, there are 3 Scuoli Superiori (for business-related graduate studies), 3 Università per Stranieri (specifically for foreign students), 11 Università Telematiche (distance learning universities), pontifical universities (all based in Rome) and a large number of higher education institutions in the fields of music, art, design and restoration.
There are currently about 2 million people studying in Italy, of whom about 4 per cent are from abroad.
The Queen of Tuscany
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By Train through Italy
Public transport works really well in Italy - especially between cities. With Omio you can buy your ticket for the good train and bus connections in real time.
Our latest articles from Italy - without Dottore...
- RESEARCHED! - Why Italy speaks with its hands
Full body effort is also required when speaking in Italy. Scientists have discovered why people in Bella Italia talk with their hands. - ATTENTION, DISCOVERY - The tourist traps in ROMEThe eternal city, incredibly beautiful and incredibly old. In order to have good memories of your visit to Rome, you should avoid the rip-off traps.
- BUONGIORNO! -Why everyone in Italy is a dottoreItaly without a title is like Italy without spaghetti. In the land of Ferrari, Gucci & Co. it's not simply "Mr" or "Mrs"! A little flattery does not hurt.
- Olive oil from Italy - All about the green goldItaly and the olive trees, an ancient love story. Italian cuisine without olive oil is unimaginable. Today, olives are a billion-dollar business.
- Where everyone wants to go! - The 10 most popular cities in ItalyForewarning: Could get fuller, especially in summer! The 10 most popular cities and places in Italy: This is where many people would like to go (at least) once in their lives...
- SOPHIA LOREN - The story of a super divaSophia Loren (88), the super diva from Italy, A skinny girl from Naples who becomes Hollywood's favourite. In show business for 60 years.
written by Annie Kayser, first published 20.9.21
Cover photo/montage: Antonio Gravante/Getty Images; waldo93/pixabay via canva.com
Sources: own calculations; Free University of Bolzano; Daniele Orla: "How to use salutations and titles correctly in Italian" (Experto.de/Businesstipps); FAZ/Tobias Piller: "Niemals ohne den Dottore" (Never without the Dottore)
