percorso
/perˈkor.so/masculine
A route is percorso in Italian. If unsure, use percorso. Wiktionary also lists rotta and itinerario.
Meaning: course or way traveled (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| percorso | /perˈkor.so/ | masculine |
| rotta | /ˈrot.ta/ | feminine |
| itinerario | /i.ti.neˈra.rjo/ | masculine |
percorso is the general word for the way you travel from one place to another. It can also describe a path in a figurative sense, such as a career path.
Which one should you use?
rotta is a course for ships and aircraft. itinerario is a planned route with a list of stops, like a travel itinerary.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
percorso and itinerario are masculine, with the plurals percorsi and itinerari. rotta is feminine, with the plural rotte.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /perˈkor.so/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second.
What mistakes should you avoid?
To route something, such as data, Italian uses a verb like instradare, not the noun percorso.
Did you know?
- The word rotta comes from the verb rompere, meaning 'to break'. In Latin, it originally referred to a 'broken' or rough path created by clearing a way through the wilderness.
- Rotta is used almost exclusively for ships and aircraft. If a traveler refers to a hiking trail as a rotta, it would sound as if they are navigating by compass or sextant.
- If you are following a travel itinerary, you are following an itinerario, a word that shares the same ancient Latin root as the English word 'itinerary'.
Examples in context
- Questo è un percorso facile.This is an easy route.percorso facile means an easy route.Tatoeba #1655347 by Guybrush88, translation #1656391 by rul
- Qual è il percorso per Parigi?Which is the route to Paris?il percorso per Parigi asks for the way to a city.Tatoeba #2996112 by Guybrush88, translation #1131244 by FiRez
- Ero convinto del percorso scelto.I was convinced of my chosen route.percorso scelto means a chosen route.Tatoeba #13040033 by Nuel, translation #13040032 by Nuel
- Il percorso più rapido per arrivare a Firenze è attraverso l'autostrada.The fastest route to get to Florence is through the highway.
- Sai quale è la migliore strada per arrivare al ristorante?Do you know the best route/way to get to the restaurant?
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are hiking in the mountains.
- FrancescoSofia, hai la mappa del percorso?Sofia, do you have the route map?
- SofiaSì, Francesco, è nello zaino.Yes, Francesco, it is in the backpack.
- FrancescoOttimo, seguiamo questo percorso.Great, let's follow this route.
- SofiaVa bene, andiamo!Okay, let's go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “route” translations and entries percorso, rotta, itinerario, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries itinerario, percorso, rotta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
