isolato
/i.zoˈla.to/masculine
The Italian phrase for city block is isolato.
isolato refers to a part of a town that is enclosed by streets.
Meaning: part of town enclosed by streets (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word isolato literally means 'isolated' or 'set apart', referring to the way a block of buildings is set apart from others by the surrounding streets.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is isolato. To refer to multiple city blocks, use the plural form isolati.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables and the stress is on the third syllable: /i.zoˈla.to/.
Did you know?
- Because isolato shares a root with the English word 'isolated', it can also be used to describe a person who is socially lonely or an individual who lives in seclusion.
- The word isolato comes from the Latin 'insulatus', which refers to an 'island', suggesting that every city block is essentially a tiny island of buildings surrounded by a 'sea' of streets.
- In the historic centers of Italian cities, an isolato is rarely a perfect rectangle because the layouts often follow ancient Roman or medieval paths instead of a grid.
Examples in context
- L'isolato è delimitato da quattro strade.The block is bounded by four streets.
- L'isolato è molto tranquillo.The city block is very quiet.
- Abito in questo isolato da anni.I have lived in this city block for years.
- C'è un bar all'angolo dell'isolato.There is a bar at the corner of the block.
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are walking through the city looking for a cafe.
- SofiaIl caffè è proprio dietro questo isolato.The cafe is right behind this block.
- MatteoDobbiamo girare a destra o a sinistra?Do we need to turn right or left?
- SofiaGira a destra dopo l'isolato.Turn right after the block.
- MatteoPerfetto, Matteo lo vede già!Perfect, Matteo sees it already!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “city block” translations and entries isolato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries isolato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
