piccolo paese
/ˈpik.ko.lo paˈe.ze/word by word
The English phrase "small town" is translated into Italian as piccolo paese.
piccolo paese is used to describe a small community or a settlement located in the countryside. If you are specifically referring to a town that is particularly quaint or historic, you might instead use the word borgo.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective piccolo (small) and the noun paese (town or village).
Which one should you use?
While the word paese can also mean "country" (as in a nation), in the specific context of piccolo paese, it refers to a small settlement or village.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈpik.ko.lo paˈe.ze/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The fierce local pride associated with a piccolo paese is called campanilismo, which literally refers to the 'bell tower' that defines the village's limits.
- The Italian word piccolo may be related to the English word 'piece' through a shared Vulgar Latin root meaning 'small' or 'worthless'.
- The word borgo, used for quaint small towns, originally referred to a fortified settlement or a suburb outside the main city walls.
Examples in context
- Vivo in un piccolo paese.I live in a small town.This sentence is useful for stating where you live using piccolo paese.Tatoeba #391579 by Pharamp, translation #258639 by CK
- Sono di un paesino nel sud d'ItaliaI am from a small town in the south of Italy
- È un bellissimo borgo di campagnaIt is a beautiful countryside small town
- Vivo in una cittadina nelle collineI live in a small town in the hills
- Vado al mio paesello per le vacanzeI'm going to my small town for holidays
- Mi piace il mio paesuzzo tranquillo e accoglienteI like my quiet and welcoming small town
- Vivo in un piccolo borgatelloI live in a small town
- La contrada dove vivo è un piccolo paesinoThe contrada where I live is a small town
- È un piccolo paese molto tranquillo.It is a very quiet small town.
- Vorrei vivere in un piccolo paese di montagna.I would like to live in a small mountain town.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Sofia are talking about their holiday plans.
- AlessandroPreferisci la città o un piccolo paese?Do you prefer the city or a small town?
- SofiaPreferisco un piccolo paese, è più rilassante.I prefer a small town, it is more relaxing.
- AlessandroHai ragione, la vita lì è lenta.You are right, life there is slow.
- SofiaEsatto, cerchiamo un piccolo paese per l'estate.Exactly, let's look for a small town for the summer.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (piccolo, paese) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries paese, piccolo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
