Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tomba | /ˈtom.ba/ | feminine |
| fossa | /ˈfɔs.sa/ | feminine |
The word for 'grave' depends on whether you are discussing a physical hole or a place of rest. You can also use the related verb intagliare to mean carving letters, or the adjectives solenne and grave to describe something having a sense of seriousness. Metaphorically, the idiom scavarsi la fossa is used to describe someone causing their own downfall, similar to the English expression 'to dig one's own grave'.
Which one should you use?
Use fossa when referring to the physical pit, ditch or excavation in the ground. In contrast, use tomba when referring to the grave as a conceptual site of burial, a final resting place or a monument.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both fossa and tomba are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
tomba is pronounced /ˈtom.ba/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- While fossa means a pit, it is also the standard term used in Italian to describe a septic tank, known as a fossa biologica.
- The word fossa is used in anatomy to describe a shallow depression or hollow in a bone, such as the 'fossa ovalis' in the heart.
- In Italian, the word grave used as an adjective describes not just seriousness, but also the lowest register of a musical pitch.
Examples in context
- Ha un piede nella fossa.He has one foot in the grave.The sentence using fossa is useful for seeing the idiom 'to have one's foot in the grave'.Tatoeba #3432789 by Guybrush88, translation #297213 by CK
- Questa è la tomba di Tom.This is Tom's grave.The sentence using tomba is useful for demonstrating possession in the context of a burial site.Tatoeba #3838770 by Guybrush88, translation #2647580 by CK
- Ti stai scavando la fossa.You're digging your own grave.The sentence using fossa illustrates the metaphorical use of digging one's own grave.Tatoeba #12432051 by Blueblaze, translation #11953805 by zogwarg
- Riposa in paceRest in peace
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are visiting an old cemetery.
- FrancescoCerchiamo la tomba di tuo nonno.Let's look for your grandfather's grave.
- GiuliaSì, è proprio in questo settore.Yes, it is right in this section.
- FrancescoHo trovato la tomba giusta.I found the right grave.
- GiuliaGrazie, Francesco, sei stato molto veloce.Thank you, Francesco, you were very fast.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grave” translations and entries tomba, fossa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
