How to Say "Drinking Fountain" in Italian

fontanella

/fon.taˈnɛl.la/

The Italian word for "drinking fountain" is fontanella.

Use fontanella when referring to the functional water dispensers found in public parks, stations or schools.

Meaning: device that is used to provide water to drink (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is a diminutive of fontana (fountain), literally meaning "little fountain".

While fontana refers to a large, often decorative fountain, fontanella is the specific term for a small drinking fountain or water fountain.

In Rome, locals refer to a drinking fountain as nasoni, which means "big noses".

The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /fon.taˈnɛl.la/.

Rome's public fontanelle are fed by the same gravity-fed aqueduct system that supplied the city during the Roman Empire. This means the water travels from mountains to the city without needing electric pumps.
The nasoni fountains of Rome are designed to flow constantly rather than using a button. This prevents stagnant water and ensures the city's ancient aqueduct system remains pressurized.
There are over 2500 nasoni across Rome, and the city provides a dedicated mobile app to help people find them.

C'è una fontanella qui vicino.
There is a drinking fountain nearby.
Cerco una fontanella per riempire la borraccia.
I am looking for a drinking fountain to fill my water bottle.
L'acqua della fontanella è molto fresca.
The water from the drinking fountain is very fresh.

Martina and Francesco are walking through a public park.

Martina

Francesco, hai sete?
Francesco, are you thirsty?
Francesco

Sì, cerchiamo una fontanella.
Yes, let's look for a drinking fountain.
Martina

Guarda, quella fontanella è proprio laggiù.
Look, that drinking fountain is right over there.
Francesco

Ottimo, andiamo a bere un po' d'acqua.
Great, let's go drink some water.

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