camino
/kaˈmi.no/masculine
The English word chimney can be translated into Italian as camino or ciminiera.
Meaning: vertical tube or hollow column, a flue (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| camino | /kaˈmi.no/ | masculine |
| ciminiera | feminine |
The term refers to a vertical tube, hollow column or a flue. While both words describe types of chimneys, they are used in different contexts.
Which one should you use?
Use camino when referring to a domestic fireplace or the chimney of a house. Use ciminiera when referring to industrial smokestacks or large factory chimneys.
How does it change in a sentence?
camino is a masculine noun, while ciminiera is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of camino is /kaˈmi.no/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
In Italian, the idiom for describing someone who smokes heavily is fuma come una ciminiera (smokes like a chimney).
Did you know?
- The word camino is used for both the fireplace and the flue. This means an Italian speaker refers to the hearth where the fire burns and the tube leading outside by the same name.
- The word camino shares its root with the Ancient Greek word kámīnos, which referred to an oven or a furnace.
- In Italian, the term camino is also used to describe the 'chimney' of a ship, although the technical maritime term is fumaiolo.
Examples in context
- Quel camino è molto alto.That chimney is very high.This sentence is useful for describing the height of a camino.Tatoeba #4732786 by Guybrush88, translation #68561 by CK
- Quel lungo camino è rotto?Is that long chimney broken?This sentence is useful for asking if a camino is broken.Tatoeba #3112267 by Guybrush88, translation #67941 by Lumi_alt
- Tom fuma come una ciminiera.Tom smokes like a chimney.This sentence demonstrates the idiom using ciminiera.Tatoeba #1409630 by Guybrush88, translation #1409628 by CK
- Il camino di questa casa è molto alto.The chimney of this house is very tall.
- La canna fumaria è ostruita.The chimney stack is blocked.
- Mi piace stare vicino al camino quando fa freddo.I like to sit near the fireplace when it's cold.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are looking at a house for sale.
- GiuliaVedi quel camino sul tetto?Do you see that chimney on the roof?
- MatteoSì, sembra molto antico.Yes, it looks very old.
- GiuliaSpero che il camino funzioni bene.I hope the chimney works well.
- MatteoDovremo controllare la struttura.We will have to check the structure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chimney” translations and entries camino, ciminiera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camino, ciminiera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
