giro
/ˈd͡ʒi.ro/
The Italian word for ride is giro.
In Italian, a ride is expressed using the noun giro, which refers to the act of transporting oneself by sitting on and directing a vehicle or animal, such as a bicycle or a horse. When discussing rides or journeys, you may use the verb andare (to go), the verb guidare (to drive) or the verb partire (to depart). To describe the nature of a ride, you can use the adjective panoramico for a scenic ride or sconnesso for a bumpy ride.
Meaning: to transport oneself by sitting on and directing a horse, bicycle etc. (verb)
Which one should you use?
The term cavalcata is used specifically to refer to a formal ride, typically one performed on a horse.
How do you pronounce it?
giro is pronounced /ˈdʒi.ro/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
Did you know?
- In Italian financial terms, a giroconto is a transfer of funds between two accounts. It uses the word giro to describe the 'ride' or movement of money from one place to another.
- The world's most famous cycling race, the Giro d'Italia, literally translates to 'Tour of Italy' or 'Ride of Italy'. It is the Italian equivalent of the Tour de France.
- The word giro shares its roots with the English word 'gyroscope', which relates to circular motion.
Examples in context
- Tom andò a fare un giro in bici.Tom went for a bike ride.This sentence shows how to use giro regarding a bike ride.Tatoeba #1171849 by Guybrush88, translation #1140897 by CK
- Andiamo a fare un giro con la mia auto.Let's go for a ride in my car.This sentence demonstrates using giro for a car ride.Tatoeba #3022750 by Guybrush88, translation #251065 by CK
- Benedito vuole fare un giro in kayak nell'oceano.Benedito wants to ride a kayak in the ocean.This sentence illustrates the use of giro in the context of a kayak ride.Tatoeba #13536856 by Guybrush88, translation #11732258 by Amastan
- La cavalcata attraverso la città è stata un'esperienza indimenticabile.The ride through the city was an unforgettable experience.
- Ho apprezzato molto il giro in barca sul lago di Como.I really enjoyed the boat ride on Lake Como.
- Domani faremo una gita in montagna con le nostre biciclette.Tomorrow, we're going on a mountain ride with our bicycles.
- Stamattina ho fatto una piccola passeggiata in motorino per rilassarmi.This morning, I went for a little ride on my scooter to relax.
- Ieri sera abbiamo fatto un giro in macchina per le colline circostanti.Yesterday evening, we went for a car ride in the surrounding hills.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are talking about their weekend plans.
- SofiaVuoi fare un giro in sella al cavallo?Do you want to go for a ride on the horse?
- AlessandroSì, mi piacerebbe molto, Sofia!Yes, I would love to, Sofia!
- SofiaAllora facciamo un giro nel bosco domani.Then let's take a ride in the woods tomorrow.
- AlessandroPerfetto, non vedo l'ora!Perfect, I can't wait!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry giro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries giro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
