tunnel
/ˈtun.nel/masculine
The Italian word for tunnel is tunnel. Wiktionary also lists galleria and traforo.
Meaning: an underground or underwater passage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tunnel | /ˈtun.nel/ | masculine |
| galleria | feminine | |
| traforo | /traˈfɔ.ro/ /traˈfo.ro/ |
masculine |
| cunicolo | /kuˈni.ko.lo/ | masculine |
An underground or underwater passage is referred to using several different terms depending on the specific nature and size of the passage.
Which one should you use?
While tunnel is used for general passages, galleria is often used for large-scale infrastructure like subway tunnels or long road tunnels. The term traforo is used specifically to refer to tunnels that pass through mountains, often for roads or railways. For much smaller and narrower passages, such as an animal's burrow or a small drainage pipe, use cunicolo.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of tunnel is /ˈtun.nel/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word galleria may have its roots in the region of Galilee, via the Latin word for a church porch.
- In Italian, galleria refers not only to tunnels but also to the famous glass-roofed shopping arcades found in cities like Milan.
- The word galleria is used for both a massive subway passage and a high-end art gallery.
Examples in context
- Il tunnel è collassato.The tunnel collapsed.This sentence uses tunnel to describe a collapse.Tatoeba #11461232 by Guybrush88, translation #3872909 by Amastan
- Tom scomparve nel tunnel.Tom disappeared into the tunnel.This sentence uses tunnel to describe someone disappearing into it.Tatoeba #5703800 by Guybrush88, translation #2742883 by CM
- Com'è entrato nel tunnel?How did you get into the tunnel?This sentence uses tunnel to ask about entering the passage.Tatoeba #7706112 by Guybrush88, translation #3730901 by CM
- Ho attraversato una galleria per arrivare all'altra parte della città.I went through a tunnel to reach the other side of the city.
- La galleria sotto il fiume è un'opera di ingegneria impressionante.The tunnel beneath the river is an impressive engineering work.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are driving through a mountain pass.
- ChiaraGuarda, stiamo entrando in un tunnel.Look, we are entering a tunnel.
- AlessandroQuanto è lungo questo tunnel?How long is this tunnel?
- ChiaraNon lo so, non c'è scritto nulla.I don't know, nothing is written.
- AlessandroSpero che finisca presto.I hope it ends soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tunnel” translations and entries tunnel, galleria, traforo, cunicolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cunicolo, galleria, traforo, tunnel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
