lato
/ˈla.to/masculine
The English word side can be translated into Italian as lato.
lato is a masculine noun used to describe the bounding straight edge of an object. It is also used in the idiomatic expression lato positivo to mean the 'bright side' or 'silver lining'.
Meaning: bounding straight edge of an object (noun)
Which one should you use?
While lato refers to a physical side or edge, the related adjective laterale is used to describe something as being on the side or lateral.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the masculine noun lato is lati.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈla.to/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The Latin root for 'wide' that produced lato also evolved into the English word 'dilated', meaning to make wider.
- To say 'side by side', Italians use the expression fianco a fianco, which uses the word for 'flank' rather than lato.
- While lato describes a physical edge, Italians often use parte when referring to a 'side' in the sense of a team or a point of view in an argument.
Examples in context
- Guarda il lato positivo.Look on the bright side.This sentence is useful for seeing how to say 'bright side' using lato.Tatoeba #7925859 by Guybrush88, translation #3722247 by CM
- È passato dall'altro lato.He went over to the other side.This sentence shows how to refer to the 'other side' using lato.Tatoeba #13413063 by Guybrush88, translation #299826 by CK
- Da che lato va la forchetta?Which side does the fork go on?This sentence demonstrates asking which side an object like a fork belongs on using lato.Tatoeba #11490370 by Guybrush88, translation #9162418 by CK
- La sedia è sul lato destro della stanza.The chair is on the right side of the room.
- Ho un dolore al fianco sinistro.I have a pain on the left side.
- Dai, vieni dalla mia parte!Come on, come to my side!
- Il ristorante è dall'altra parte della strada.The restaurant is on the other side of the street.
- 64 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are unpacking a moving box.
- ChiaraFrancesco, guarda questo lato della scatola!Francesco, look at this side of the box!
- FrancescoÈ schiacciato, ma il lato opposto è intero.It is crushed, but the opposite side is intact.
- ChiaraPossiamo comunque usarlo per appoggiare i libri.We can still use it to prop up the books.
- FrancescoSì, basta che il lato sia stabile.Yes, as long as the side is stable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “side” translations and entries lato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
