How do you say girlfriend in Italian?

Describing a girlfriend in Italian:

For a girl talking about her friend who is also a girl, you can say mia amica [MEE-ah ah-MEE-cah].

For a romantic relationship, you can say la mia ragazza [lah MEE-ah rah-GAHT-zah].

Maria é la mia ragazza.
Maria is my girlfriend.

In Italy, the use of la mia fidanzata [lah MEE-ah fee-dahn-ZAH-tah] is very common, and it also means girlfriend. This confuses a lot of people, because it’s similar to the English word fiancé. However, fidanzata does not necessarily mean engaged to be married. It simply implies being in love or in a serious relationship.

So guys, if you would say, “Yes, this is my girlfriend,” then she is also your fidanzata.

See related:
How do you say boyfriend in Italian?
How do you say I love you in Italian?
How do you say kiss in Italian?