# Mario

/ˈmɑɹioʊ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mario
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common name for a man or boy, especially in Italy or Spain.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Italian and Spanish origin, derived from the Roman name Marius.

- My new colleague Mario is moving here from Rome next month.
- The professor introduced Mario as the lead researcher on the project, noting his extensive background in Mediterranean history.

### 2. video game character

noun · CEFR A1

a famous video game character who is a plumber wearing a red hat.

For teachers: the central protagonist of the Nintendo media franchise, characterised as an Italian plumber in the Mushroom Kingdom.

- The children spent the rainy afternoon playing Mario on their game console.
- Since his debut in the early 1980s, Mario has become a global cultural icon, appearing in hundreds of titles across various gaming platforms.

## Examples

- Mario jumps over the green pipes to reach the end of the level.
- Many children first learn how to use a game controller by playing as Mario in a platforming game.
- The cultural impact of Mario extends far beyond gaming, as the character has become a global icon recognized by people of all ages across different media platforms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.