pagaia
/paˈɡa.ja/
The Italian verb for 'to paddle' is pagaia.
The verb pagaia means to propel something through water with a paddle, hands or similar instrument. The term remo is more commonly associated with rowing.
Meaning: to propel something through water with a paddle, hands or similar instrument (verb)
Which one should you use?
While pagaia refers specifically to using a single-blade paddle, remare is the more general term for rowing with oars.
How do you pronounce it?
The word consists of 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /paˈɡa.ja/.
Did you know?
- The word pagaia traces its ancestry all the way back to the Malay word kayuh, meaning 'to paddle'. This journey through Dutch and French reflects how maritime technology and terminology spread across global trade routes.
- While pagaiare is the literal verb for paddling, Italians often use remare as a metaphor for working hard to achieve a goal, such as remare contro for 'swimming against the tide'.
- In Italian, there is a sharp distinction between pagaiare and remare because a pagaia is handheld and not attached to the boat, whereas a remo is an oar fixed to the vessel.
Examples in context
- Andiamo a fare kayak questo fine settimana. Porta la pagaia!Let's go kayaking this weekend. Bring the paddle!
- Voglio imparare a usare il remo per canoa. Conosci un buon istruttore?I want to learn how to use the canoe paddle. Do you know a good instructor?
Example conversation
Martina and Francesco are in a canoe on a river.
- MartinaFrancesco, devi pagaia con più ritmo!Francesco, you need to paddle with more rhythm!
- FrancescoSto facendo del mio meglio, Martina.I am doing my best, Martina.
- MartinaSe non pagaia bene, andremo a sbattere.If you don't paddle well, we will crash.
- FrancescoVa bene, ora vado più veloce.Alright, now I'm going faster.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pagaia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pagaia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
