Aereo vs. aeroplano
In Italian, both aereo and aeroplano translate to "airplane" or "plane". While they are largely synonymous, their usage differs based on context and frequency, with one being far more common in modern language.
Aereo
A1This is the modern, standard, and most common word for "airplane". It is used in all general contexts, from commercial flights and military jets to toy planes. It is the default term you would use in everyday conversation. Aereo can also be used as an adjective meaning "air" or "aerial".
Il nostro aereo per Roma parte tra un'ora.
(Our plane to Rome leaves in an hour.)
Ho paura di viaggiare in aereo.
(I'm afraid of traveling by airplane.)
Il bambino ha ricevuto un aereo giocattolo per il suo compleanno.
(The child received a toy airplane for his birthday.)
La contraerea ha abbattuto un aereo nemico.
(The anti-aircraft defense shot down an enemy aircraft.)
Il trasporto aereo di merci è molto veloce.
(The air transport of goods is very fast.)
Aeroplano
B1This word also means "airplane", but it is less common in contemporary Italian. It often sounds more technical, formal, or slightly dated. You might encounter aeroplano when referring to historical aircraft (like those from WWI/WWII), smaller propeller planes, or in a more technical or engineering context.
Il museo espone un vecchio aeroplano da caccia della Seconda Guerra Mondiale.
(The museum displays an old fighter plane from the Second World War.)
L'inventore presentò il suo progetto per un nuovo tipo di aeroplano.
(The inventor presented his project for a new type of airplane.)
Il pilota ha volato attraverso la tempesta con il suo piccolo aeroplano monomotore.
(The pilot flew through the storm with his small single-engine airplane.)
Mio nonno parlava sempre degli aeroplani della sua gioventù.
(My grandfather always talked about the airplanes of his youth.)
Summary
In summary, for everyday use, always choose aereo. It is the current, all-purpose word for any kind of plane. Reserve aeroplano for specific contexts, such as talking about historical aircraft, small propeller planes, or when using more formal or technical language. While everyone will understand aeroplano, using aereo will make your Italian sound more natural and modern.