#123: Use of Santo (Saint) in Italian
The word, santo, means saint in Italian and can be used as a noun or an adjective. As an adjective, it follows a certain set of rules when used with proper names. See below:
- Santo is used before saint names beginning with an s + consonant:
Santo Stefano
- Santo becomes San before masculine saints beginning with a consonant:
San Lorenzo
San Pietro
San Paolo
San Severo - Santo becomes Santa before feminine saints beginning with a consonant:
Santa Francesca
Santa Teresa - Santo becomes Sant’ before masculine and feminine saints beginning with a vowel:
Sant’Antonio
Sant’Anastasia
Sant’Elia
Sant’Ignazio
For a list of Saints in Italian, check out this Wikipedia article.
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