Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| segno di frenata | masculine | |
| segno di sgommata | /ˈseɲ.ɲo di zɡomˈma.ta/ (word by word) | masculine |
| traccia di frenata | feminine | |
| traccia di sgommata | /ˈtrat.t͡ʃa di zɡomˈma.ta/ (word by word) | feminine |
In Italian, these terms describe the black marks left on a road surface by vehicle tires. You can use the adjective lungo/a to describe a mark that is long, and the verb phrase lasciare tracce can be used to say "to leave marks".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase segno di frenata literally translates to "sign of braking".
Which one should you use?
The choice of words depends on how the mark was made and what you want to emphasize. segno di frenata specifically implies the mark was made by a vehicle slowing down or stopping. In contrast, sgommata refers to a mark produced by spinning the tires, such as a burnout, often used in the context of reckless driving or stunts and implies a more aggressive, intentional skid or burnout. Regarding the noun, segno emphasizes the mark itself, while the feminine form traccia di frenata is used when emphasizing the physical path or trail left on the ground.
How does it change in a sentence?
The terms segno di frenata and segno di sgommata are masculine, while traccia di frenata and traccia di sgommata are feminine. To express the plural "skid marks", change segno to segni.
Did you know?
- In Italian, frenata comes from freno, which shares a root with the English word 'bridle' used to stop horses.
- The word gomma in sgommata means both 'tire' and 'eraser'. This creates a vivid image of a car tire literally erasing its own material onto the asphalt.
- The word sgommata is used colloquially to describe a sudden, fast departure from a place, regardless of whether tires actually screech.
Examples in context
- Ho visto dei segni di frenata lunghi sulla strada bagnata.I saw long skid marks on the wet road.
- La macchina ha lasciato delle tracce di slittamento sulla strada.The car left some skid marks on the road.
- C'è un lungo segno di frenata sull'asfalto.There is a long skid mark on the asphalt.
- Il segno di frenata indica che l'auto era veloce.The skid mark indicates that the car was fast.
- Ho visto un segno di frenata proprio prima dell'incidente.I saw a skid mark right before the accident.
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are standing near a street after a car accident.
- MatteoVedi quel segno di frenata sulla strada?Do you see that skid mark on the road?
- ChiaraSì, è molto evidente, Matteo.Yes, it is very obvious, Matteo.
- MatteoL'auto ha frenato bruscamente.The car braked suddenly.
- ChiaraSembra proprio di sì.It certainly looks like it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skid mark” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (segno, di, sgommata, traccia) and can differ in connected speech.
