fuori dalla retta via
The English phrase 'astray' can be translated into Italian as fuori dalla retta via. Wiktionary also lists fuori strada and traviato.
Meaning: in a wrong direction (adv)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| fuori dalla retta via | |
| fuori strada | /ˈfwɔ.ri ˈstra.da/ (word by word) |
| traviato |
Italian uses different expressions depending on whether you mean straying from a moral path or a physical path. To express the action of 'going astray' in either a physical or metaphorical sense, Italians often use the verb 'andare' with fuori strada.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase fuori dalla retta via literally translates to 'out of the straight way'.
Which one should you use?
Fuori strada is more commonly used for physical directions or literal paths, whereas fuori dalla retta via carries a stronger moral or metaphorical connotation of straying from a righteous path.
Did you know?
- While fuori strada means 'astray', it is also the Italian term for 'off-roading'. A veicolo fuori strada is an off-road vehicle, such as a 4×4.
- In Italian, the word via can mean 'way' or 'road', but it is also used as a command meaning 'away' or 'gone'. Shouting via! is the equivalent of telling someone to 'get out'.
- The word fuori comes from the Latin 'forīs', which originally referred to the door. To be 'astray' or 'out' was literally to be 'outside the door'.
Examples in context
- I percorsi possono snodarsi, portandoci fuori strada.Paths can twist and turn, leading us astray.This sentence shows how paths can lead someone fuori strada.Tatoeba #13185580 by Nuel, translation #13185577 by Nuel
- Fai attenzione, Pinocchio! Quei cattivi compagni prima o poi ti faranno perdere il vostro amore per lo studio. Un giorno ti porteranno fuori strada.Take care, Pinocchio! Those bad companions will sooner or later make you lose your love for study. Some day they will lead you astray.This sentence illustrates how bad companions might lead Pinocchio fuori strada.Tatoeba #3100953 by Guybrush88, translation #2728204 by Hybrid
- Mi sento completamente smarritoI feel completely astray
- Mi sono ritrovato all'improvviso fuori stradaI suddenly found myself astray
- Il turista si è smarrito nel labirinto di stradine del centro storicoThe tourist got lost in the maze of narrow streets in the historic center
- Il suo comportamento lo ha portato fuori dalla retta via.His behavior led him astray.
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are discussing a former friend's recent bad decisions.
- GiuliaPensi che Marco sia ormai fuori dalla retta via?Do you think Marco is truly astray now?
- AlessandroSì, le sue ultime scelte sono molto preoccupanti.Yes, his recent choices are very worrying.
- GiuliaSpero che la sua famiglia possa aiutarlo.I hope his family can help him.
- AlessandroSpero anche io che ritrovi la sua strada.I hope he finds his way again too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “astray” translations and entries fuori strada, traviato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (fuori, strada) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fuori, fuori strada, retta, strada, via, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
