Residente vs. abitante
The Italian words 'residente' and 'abitante' both refer to people living in a place, but they have subtle differences in usage and legal implications.
Residente
'Residente' refers to a person who is officially registered as living in a specific place, often implying a legal status or formal recognition.
Mario è residente a Roma da cinque anni.
(Mario has been a registered resident of Rome for five years.)
Per ottenere la carta d'identità, devi essere residente nel comune.
(To obtain an ID card, you must be a resident of the municipality.)
Abitante
'Abitante' is a more general term that simply means someone who lives in a place, regardless of their official status.
Questa città ha circa 100.000 abitanti.
(This city has about 100,000 inhabitants.)
Gli abitanti del villaggio sono molto accoglienti.
(The inhabitants of the village are very welcoming.)
Summary
While 'residente' implies official registration and often legal status in a place, 'abitante' is a broader term for anyone living in an area. 'Residente' is used in formal contexts and for administrative purposes, while 'abitante' is more common in general descriptions of populations or communities.