falcata
/falˈka.ta/
The Italian word for 'stride' is falcata.
The word falcata can function as both a noun meaning 'a stride' and as a verbal adjective/participle in certain literary contexts.
Meaning: to walk with long steps (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun falcata is derived from falcare, which means to mow or to cut with a scythe, metaphorically referring to the wide, sweeping motion of a step.
Which one should you use?
While falcata is a more literary or technical term for a single long stride, lungo passo is the common, everyday way to describe a long step.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/falˈka.ta/. The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- Because falcata describes a wide arc, it is sometimes used in specialized descriptions of dance or fencing to describe a lunging movement.
- In Italian poetry and classical literature, falcata is often used to evoke a sense of nobility or power through the physical scale of a person's movement.
- In modern Italian, if you tell someone to take a falcata in a casual setting, they may find it oddly dramatic or poetic, as it sounds like a line from an opera.
Examples in context
- Hey, andiamo a fare una passeggiata e godiamoci il bel tempo. Possiamo passeggiare lungo la riva del fiume, andando a grandi passi!Hey, let's go out for a walk and enjoy the beautiful weather. We can stroll along the riverbank, taking big strides!
- Mantieni una falcata costante durante la corsa.Maintain a steady stride during the run.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are talking about his training progress.
- GiuliaLorenzo, hai una falcata molto potente oggi.Lorenzo, you have a very powerful stride today.
- LorenzoGrazie, Giulia, sto cercando di migliorare la tecnica.Thanks, Giulia, I am trying to improve my technique.
- GiuliaSi vede che ti alleni molto seriamente.It shows that you train very seriously.
- LorenzoSpero che la mia falcata resti così costante.I hope my stride stays this consistent.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry falcata, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
