santuario
/san.tuˈa.rjo/masculine
In Italian, 'shrine' can be translated as santuario or edicola.
Meaning: a holy place dedicated to a specific figure of respect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| santuario | /san.tuˈa.rjo/ /sanˈtwa.rjo/ |
masculine |
| edicola | /eˈdi.ko.la/ | feminine |
Both words refer to a holy place dedicated to a specific figure of respect, but they differ significantly in scale and setting.
Which one should you use?
santuario is used for a larger, more significant religious site or sanctuary. In contrast, edicola refers to a smaller shrine, such as a roadside shrine, a small niche or a box containing a religious image.
How does it change in a sentence?
santuario is a masculine noun, while edicola is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/san.tuˈa.rjo/. The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- In modern Italian cities, an edicola is the common word for a newsstand. This usage stems from the newsstands' resemblance to the small, box-like shrines found on street corners.
- In some Italian regions, small edicole are placed at crossroads to mark the spot of a miracle or to protect travelers from evil spirits.
- The term santuario can be used to describe a nature reserve or a wildlife sanctuary, extending the idea of a 'sacred' or protected space to the environment.
Examples in context
- Il santuario è stato costruito duecento anni fa.The shrine was built two hundred years ago.This sentence shows how to describe the age of a santuario.Tatoeba #6034343 by Guybrush88, translation #46054 by CK
- Una volta c'era un piccolo santuario da queste parti.There used to be a small shrine around here.This sentence is useful for mentioning the past existence of a santuario in a specific area.Tatoeba #2769599 by Guybrush88, translation #28365 by CK
- Ha piovuto così forte che il santuario è stato spazzato via.It rained so hard that the shrine was washed away.This sentence describes the destruction of a santuario caused by heavy rain.Tatoeba #1850503 by hitori37, translation #67725 by CM
- Ho visitato il santuario di San Francesco ad Assisi.I visited the shrine of St. Francis in Assisi.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are visiting a mountain village.
- GiuliaConosci questo antico santuario?Do you know this ancient shrine?
- LorenzoNo, è la prima volta che vedo il santuario.No, it is the first time I see the shrine.
- GiuliaÈ un luogo molto suggestivo.It is a very evocative place.
- LorenzoHai ragione, è davvero speciale.You are right, it is truly special.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shrine” translations and entries santuario, edicola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
