retromarcia
/ˌrɛ.troˈmar.t͡ʃa/
In Italian, reverse is retromarcia.
retromarcia is used to describe causing a mechanism or vehicle to move in the opposite direction. When you want to express the specific action of shifting a vehicle into reverse, Italians typically use the phrase mettere la retromarcia (to put it in reverse).
Meaning: to cause a mechanism or vehicle to operate or move in the opposite directions (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
retromarcia is a compound word consisting of retro- (backwards) and marcia (march or gear).
Which one should you use?
While retromarcia is the standard term, marcia indietro is a common alternative used specifically when referring to the reverse gear in a vehicle. For a more formal sense of a reversal, you may use Inversione. If you need to describe something that has been reversed using an adjective, use invertito.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /ˌrɛ.troˈmar.tʃa/.
Did you know?
- The word marcia used in retromarcia is the same word used for a military march. This creates a conceptual link between the synchronized steps of soldiers and the mechanical gears of a vehicle.
- The term marcia is also used in the expression andare a tutta marcia, meaning to go at full speed, which highlights its meaning of 'speed' or 'pace' rather than just 'gear'.
- To describe the reversal of a river's flow or the poles of a magnet, Italians use the verb invertire instead of retromarcia.
Examples in context
- L'ordine delle parole è opposto a quello correttoThe word order is opposite to the correct one
- Le parole sono scritte all'inversoThe words are written in reverse
- L'ordine delle cifre è invertitoThe order of the digits is reversed
- La rotta dell'aereo è stata invertita a causa del temporaleThe airplane's route was reversed due to the storm
- Devi usare la retromarcia per uscire dal garage.You have to use reverse to get out of the garage.
- Fai attenzione quando metti la retromarcia.Be careful when you put it in reverse.
Example conversation
Lorenzo is helping Sofia park her car in a tight spot.
- LorenzoSofia, metti la retromarcia molto lentamente.Sofia, put it in reverse very slowly.
- SofiaVa bene, Lorenzo, sto facendo attenzione.Okay, Lorenzo, I am being careful.
- LorenzoOttimo, continua pure la retromarcia poco alla volta.Great, keep reversing bit by bit.
- SofiaCe l'ho fatta, sono parcheggiata!I did it, I am parked!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry retromarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
