quercia
/ˈkwɛr.t͡ʃa/feminine
The English word 'oak' is translated into Italian as quercia. Wiktionary also lists rovere and farnia.
Meaning: tree or shrub of the genus Quercus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| quercia | /ˈkwɛr.t͡ʃa/ | feminine |
| rovere | /ˈro.ve.re/ | feminine, masculine |
| farnia | feminine |
The term refers to a tree or shrub of the genus Quercus.
Which one should you use?
quercia is the general term for any oak tree. In contrast, rovere and farnia refer to specific species. Additionally, when discussing the material used in woodworking or furniture, rovere is the standard term used to describe oak wood.
How does it change in a sentence?
quercia is a feminine noun. The specific term rovere is a masculine noun, while farnia is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkwɛr.tʃa/. The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word rovere comes from the Latin rōbur, which means 'hardness'. This root also gives English the word 'robust'.
- In Italian culture, the oak is a symbol of strength, and calling someone a quercia can imply they are physically imposing or emotionally steadfast.
- Italian uses different nouns for oak trees based on whether the leaves are lobed or not, distinguishing rovere from farnia.
Examples in context
- La quercia è un albero.The oak is a tree.This sentence is useful for identifying an oak as a tree.Tatoeba #11837760 by Guybrush88, translation #8400135 by Smoky
- Questa quercia è molto vecchia.This oak tree is very old.This sentence is useful for describing the age of a specific oak.Tatoeba #8250309 by Guybrush88, translation #8250308 by Hybrid
- Il vecchio è sano e forte come una quercia.The old fellow is as healthy and as strong as an oak.This sentence shows how an oak can be used in a simile to describe strength and health.Tatoeba #4721003 by Guybrush88, translation #3498696 by uxintro
- La maestosa quercia forniva ombra nel parco.The majestic oak provided shade in the park
- È forte come un rovere.He's as strong as an oak
- Da bambino/a, scalavo la quercia nel nostro giardino.Growing up, I used to climb the oak tree in our garden.
- Gli arredi del nostro soggiorno sono in rovere massiccio.The furniture in our living room is made of solid oak.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are walking in a forest.
- MatteoGuarda quella quercia enorme, Giulia!Look at that huge oak, Giulia!
- GiuliaSì, è davvero maestosa.Yes, it is truly majestic.
- MatteoPossiamo riposarci sotto la quercia.We can rest under the oak.
- GiuliaOttima idea, Matteo.Great idea, Matteo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oak” translations and entries quercia, rovere, farnia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
