pontile galleggiante
The Italian word for 'pontoon' is pontile galleggiante.
The term refers to a buoyant support used to create a temporary bridge, a dock or a landing stage.
Meaning: buoyant support for a temporary bridge, dock or landing stage (noun)
Did you know?
- The root of pontile comes from the Latin word pons, meaning 'bridge', which is also the ancestor of the English word 'pontiff' because the Pope was seen as a bridge between God and man.
- Italian uses the same word galleggiante to describe both a massive industrial floating dock and the small float valve inside a toilet tank.
- In Italian nautical terminology, a pontone is specifically a flat-bottomed barge, which differs from the pontile galleggiante used as a docking support.
Examples in context
- Nel porto, il pontone viene utilizzato per l'attracco delle grandi navi.In the port, the pontoon is used for the docking of large ships.
- Dopo la tempesta, il pontile è stato gravemente danneggiato e non può più essere utilizzato.After the storm, the pontoon was severely damaged and can no longer be used.
- Il pontile galleggiante è molto stabile.The floating pontoon is very stable.
- Hanno installato un nuovo pontile galleggiante al porto.They installed a new floating pontoon at the port.
- Serve un pontile galleggiante per sbarcare i passeggeri.A floating pontoon is needed to disembark the passengers.
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are at a marina looking at the construction work.
- SofiaLorenzo, hai visto quel nuovo pontile galleggiante?Lorenzo, did you see that new floating pontoon?
- LorenzoSì, sembra molto resistente.Yes, it looks very sturdy.
- SofiaSpero che il pontile galleggiante sia pronto per l'estate.I hope the floating pontoon is ready for the summer.
- LorenzoDovrebbe essere finito entro la prossima settimana.It should be finished by next week.
