porta scorrevole
/ˈpɔr.ta skorˈre.vo.le/word by word
The English phrase "sliding door" is porta scorrevole in Italian.
porta scorrevole is the standard way to refer to a door that slides. In professional contexts such as architecture or interior design, you may also encounter the technical term porta a scorrimento.
Meaning: door (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of porta (door) and the adjective scorrevole (sliding or smooth-running).
Which one should you use?
While porta scorrevole is the general term, anta scorrevole is a formal alternative that can be used interchangeably. If you are specifically referring to a pocket door, the formal term is porta a scomparsa.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is feminine. If you use an indefinite article, you must use una (a/an). When making the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective change to porte scorrevoli.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɔr.ta skorˈre.vo.le/. The word has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The term porta a scomparsa for a pocket door literally translates to a 'disappearing door'.
- In Italian, the word porta is used for both a door and a gate, so a porta scorrevole could be a sliding entrance to a garden.
- The adjective scorrevole comes from the verb scorrere, which is the same word used to describe the 'flow' of a river or 'streaming' water.
Examples in context
- I tecnici stanno riparando la porta a scomparsa della camera.The technicians are repairing the bedroom's pocket door.
- Mi piacerebbe avere una porta a scorrimento per dividere il salotto.I would like to have a sliding door to divide the living room.
- La porta scorrevole è sporca.The sliding door is dirty.
- Abbiamo installato una nuova porta scorrevole.We installed a new sliding door.
- Puoi aprire la porta scorrevole?Can you open the sliding door?
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are looking at the balcony entrance.
- FrancescoSofia, la porta scorrevole è bloccata.Sofia, the sliding door is stuck.
- SofiaProviamo a spingerla con forza.Let's try pushing it hard.
- FrancescoSì, ora la porta scorrevole si apre.Yes, now the sliding door is opening.
- SofiaFinalmente è tutto libero.Finally, everything is clear.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (porta, scorrevole) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries porta, scorrevole, CC BY-SA 4.0.
