centro estivo
masculine
The English phrase 'summer camp' is translated into Italian as centro estivo or colonia estiva.
Meaning: institution devoted to housing and entertaining children (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| centro estivo | masculine |
| colonia estiva | feminine |
The term refers to an institution devoted to housing and entertaining children.
What does it mean word for word?
Centro estivo literally translates to 'summer center', while colonia estiva literally translates to 'summer colony'.
Which one should you use?
Centro estivo is the modern, standard term used for organized summer activities or day camps. In contrast, colonia estiva is an older, more traditional term that often implies a residential camp where children stay overnight.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of centro estivo is centri estivi. The plural of colonia estiva is colonie estive.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word colonia is also used as a shorthand for acqua di Colonia, which is the term for 'Cologne' perfume.
- Historically, colonie estive were often organized by trade unions or political parties to provide underprivileged children with a holiday they otherwise could not afford.
- Unlike the American 'summer camp' tradition of wilderness and survival skills, the Italian centro estivo often focuses more on sports, arts and swimming in a municipal setting.
Examples in context
- Sono convinto che qualche settimana in un centro estivo ben organizzato possa essere più educativo di un intero anno di scuola.I have the conviction that a few weeks in a well-organized summer camp may be of more value educationally than a whole year of formal school work.This sentence is useful for expressing how a well-organized centro estivo can provide educational value.Tatoeba #1660119 by Guybrush88, translation #1659956 by Scott
- Andiamo insieme al campo estivo!Let's go to the summer camp together!
- Il mio bambino frequenta un centro estivo ogni anno.My child attends a summer camp every year.
- Cerchiamo un centro estivo vicino al mare.We are looking for a summer camp near the sea.
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are discussing summer plans for their son.
- MatteoHai già scelto il centro estivo per Luca?Have you already chosen the summer camp for Luca?
- ChiaraSì, ho trovato un centro estivo molto divertente.Yes, I found a very fun summer camp.
- MatteoOttimo, è un'idea perfetta per lui.Great, it is a perfect idea for him.
- ChiaraSpero che gli piaccia molto.I hope he likes it a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “summer camp” translations and entries centro estivo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries centro, colonia, estivo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
