vicino (a)
/viˈt͡ʃi.no a/word by word
The English phrase 'nearby' translates to the Italian vicino (a).
vicino is the most commonly used term in Italian to express the concept of 'nearby'. You can use it as a general adverb or as a prepositional phrase to describe proximity to something.
Meaning: close to (adv)
Which one should you use?
While vicino (a) means 'close to' in a general sense, the related form accanto is used specifically to mean 'adjacent' or 'right next to' something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adverb meaning 'nearby', the word is vicino without an ending. If you are using it as a prepositional phrase to indicate proximity to a specific object, it must be followed by the preposition 'a' (forming vicino a). If you use it as an adjective to describe a feminine noun, the form changes to vicina.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /viˈtʃi.no a/.
Did you know?
- Italian has a specific phrase essere vicino a that can be used as a euphemism to suggest someone is 'close to' dying.
- The word vicino shares a common ancestor with the English word 'neighbor', as both derive from the Latin concept of living in a 'vicus' or village.
- In Italian, you can use vicino as a noun to mean 'neighbor' or 'someone who lives nearby', a usage that does not exist for the English 'nearby'.
Examples in context
- C'è una farmacia nei paraggi?Is there a pharmacy nearby?
- Il supermercato è vicinissimoThe supermarket is really nearby.
- Il parco è a due passiThe park is just around the corner.
- Abito vicino al parco.I live near the park.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nearby” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (vicino, a) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vicino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
