viaggiare a
/vi.adˈd͡ʒa.re a/word by word
The English phrase 'travel to' is translated into Italian as viaggiare a.
In this context, the preposition a translates to 'to' and is commonly used to express a destination. You can also specify your mode of transport using phrases such as in treno (by train), in aereo (by plane) or in barca (by boat).
Which one should you use?
The preposition used after the verb depends on the type of destination: use a when traveling to a city or a small place, but use in when traveling to a country or a large region.
How does it change in a sentence?
When traveling to a country or a large region, the preposition in is often used instead of a.
Did you know?
- The verb viaggiare shares an ancestor with the English word 'voyage'. Both trace their roots back to the Old French voyagier.
- If you are traveling to a place that is an island, such as Sicily, you often use in instead of a, even though it is a specific destination.
- While 'viaggiare a' is common, Italians often use the verb andare (to go) followed by a or in to express the same movement.
Examples in context
- Con chi intendi viaggiare a Boston?Who do you intend to travel to Boston with?This sentence is useful for asking who someone intends to travel to Boston with using viaggiare a.Tatoeba #13054451 by Guybrush88, translation #6238968 by CK
- Vorrei andare a Roma per le vacanze.I would like to travel to Rome for vacation.
- Il signore viaggia a Firenze per affari.The gentleman is traveling to Florence for business.
- Mi devo recare a Venezia per incontrare dei clienti.I need to travel to Venice to meet some clients.
- Vado a Napoli per godermi il sole.I'm traveling to Naples to enjoy the sun.
- Stiamo viaggiando verso Milano per visitare la famiglia.We are traveling towards Milan to visit family.
- Voglio viaggiare a Venezia in treno.I want to travel to Venice by train.
- Vado a Firenze domani in autobus.I'm traveling to Florence tomorrow by bus.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are discussing their holiday plans.
- ChiaraFrancesco, dove vuoi viaggiare a giugno?Francesco, where do you want to travel to in June?
- FrancescoVorrei viaggiare a Roma con i miei genitori.I would like to travel to Rome with my parents.
- ChiaraÈ un'idea bellissima!That is a wonderful idea!
- FrancescoVieni con me e Chiara?Will you come with me and Chiara?
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (viaggiare, a) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, viaggiare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
