riva al lago
/ˈri.va al ˈla.ɡo/word by word
The English word lakeside is translated into Italian as riva al lago.
Meaning: the shore of a lake (noun)
Which one should you use?
While riva al lago refers to the physical shore, the term lungolago is used to describe a lakeside promenade or the paved walkway specifically designed for strolling along the water.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈri.va al ˈla.ɡo/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word riva is a cognate of the English word 'river'. Both share a root that originally described the bank or the edge of a body of water rather than the flow of the water itself.
- While riva al lago refers to the natural shore, the related term lungolago describes a promenade. In many Italian towns, the lungolago is the social center of the city where the tradition of the passeggiata or evening stroll takes place.
- In Italian, the word riva can also mean 'beach' when referring to a lake, but for the ocean, Italians typically use spiaggia. This creates a linguistic distinction between the shores of still water and saltwater.
Examples in context
- Sto cercando una casa sulla riva del lago.I'm looking for a house on the lakeshore.
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are planning a picnic.
- FrancescoDove vuoi mangiare oggi, Chiara?Where do you want to eat today, Chiara?
- ChiaraAndiamo a fare un picnic alla riva al lago.Let's have a picnic at the lakeside.
- FrancescoÈ un'ottima idea, Francesco è d'accordo.That's a great idea, Francesco agrees.
- ChiaraPerfetto, preparo io il cestino!Perfect, I'll prepare the basket!
