parallelo
/pa.ralˈlɛ.lo/
The English word 'parallel' is translated into Italian as parallelo.
The adjective parallelo describes things that are equally distant from one another at all points. When you want to say that something is parallel to something else, you should use the preposition a after the adjective, forming the phrase parallelo a. Additionally, parallelo can be used as a noun to refer to a line of latitude. The adverbial form is parallelamente, which means to do something with a parallel relationship.
Meaning: equally distant from one another at all points (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, parallelo must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use parallela for feminine singular nouns, paralleli for masculine plural nouns and parallele for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable: /pa.ralˈlɛ.lo/.
Did you know?
- In Italian political discourse, parallelo is sometimes used to describe 'parallel' structures or shadow governments that operate alongside the official state.
- The word parallelo is used in the phrase tirare un parallelo, which literally means 'to pull a parallel' but functions as 'to draw an analogy'.
- The adverbial form parallelamente is often used in formal Italian to mean 'simultaneously' or 'at the same time', rather than just 'in a parallel manner'.
Examples in context
- Il fiume scorre parallelo alla via principale.The river runs parallel to the main street.This sentence shows how to use parallelo to describe the position of a river relative to a street.Tatoeba #3122689 by Guybrush88, translation #45765 by bekindtoall
- C'è un universo parallelo che si trova all'interno del Triangolo delle Bermuda.In the Bermuda Triangle there is a parallel universe.This sentence uses parallelo to describe a universe.Tatoeba #3359542 by Guybrush88, translation #619138 by ulyssemc1
- Un parallelogramma è un quadrilatero formato da due serie di linee parallele.A parallelogram is a quadrilateral formed from two sets of parallel lines.This sentence uses the plural form of the adjective to describe lines in a parallelogram.Tatoeba #585701 by bruno_b, translation #499398 by blay_paul
- Le linee parallele non si incontrano mai.Parallel lines never meet.
- I due progetti procedono in modo concomitante.The two projects are progressing in parallel.
- Le mie idee e le tue sono parallele come rotaie.My ideas and yours are parallel as rails.
- Le due strade scorrono affiancate per chilometri.The two roads run parallel for kilometers.
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are drawing a technical diagram together.
- FrancescoQuesto segmento deve essere parallelo al bordo.This segment must be parallel to the edge.
- SofiaSì, Francesco, lo sto sistemando proprio ora.Yes, Francesco, I am fixing it right now.
- FrancescoAdesso sembra perfetto e ben allineato.Now it looks perfect and well aligned.
- SofiaOttimo, così il disegno è corretto.Great, this way the drawing is correct.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “parallel” translations and entries parallelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
