Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| vasto | /ˈvas.to/ |
| ampio | /ˈam.pjo/ |
| esteso | /esˈte.zo/ /esˈte.so/ |
| grande | /ˈɡran.de/ |
| immenso | /imˈmɛn.so/ |
vasto is used to describe things that are very large or wide, both literally and figuratively. You can use it to describe physical areas like deserts or oceans, or figuratively to refer to a wide range of knowledge or a vast amount of information.
Which one should you use?
While vasto implies an immense and often overwhelming scale, ampio is more commonly used to describe something that is simply spacious or wide, such as a room or a street. immenso acts as a stronger, more hyperbolic synonym for vasto and is frequently applied to abstract concepts like 'immense joy' or 'immense space'. Additionally, the form grande is considered a rare way to express this idea in this context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective vasto must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The feminine singular form is vasta, the masculine plural form is vasti and the feminine plural form is vaste.
How do you pronounce it?
vasto is pronounced /ˈvas.to/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word vasto originates from the Latin word 'vastus', which interestingly meant 'empty' as much as it meant 'vast'.
- The word ampio is frequently used in Italian to describe a 'wide' margin of time, such as un ampio margine. English speakers typically use 'wide' for physical space but not for time in the same way.
- While English uses 'vast' for both size and quantity, Italian often reserves vasto for area or range. For a 'vast' amount of money, an Italian speaker is more likely to use una cifra enorme.
Examples in context
- Il campo è vasto.The field is vast.This sentence shows how to use vasto to describe a field.Tatoeba #13733340 by passa97, translation #13727653 by Charmander
- Il Sahara è un deserto vasto.The Sahara is a vast desert.This sentence shows how to use vasto to describe a desert.Tatoeba #493587 by Pharamp, translation #54060 by CM
- Attraversarono il vasto deserto.They traveled across the vast desert.This sentence shows how to use vasto as an adjective before a noun.Tatoeba #13383131 by Guybrush88, translation #12621416 by always
- La foresta amazzonica è un luogo enorme ricco di biodiversità.The Amazon rainforest is an enormous place rich in biodiversity.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are looking at a map of a new territory.
- GiuliaGuarda quanto è vasto questo territorio!Look how vast this territory is!
- LorenzoSì, è davvero un mondo vasto.Yes, it is truly a vast world.
- GiuliaLorenzo, riusciremo a esplorarlo tutto?Lorenzo, will we manage to explore it all?
- LorenzoCi vorrà molto tempo, Giulia.It will take a lot of time, Giulia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vast” translations and entries vasto, ampio, esteso, grande, immenso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ampio, esteso, grande, vasto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
