passeggiare
/pas.sedˈd͡ʒa.re/
To 'walk around' in Italian is passeggiare.
passeggiare is used when you are walking in a leisurely way for pleasure or exercise.
Which one should you use?
Use passeggiare when the intention is leisure or enjoyment. In contrast, camminare is a more neutral term that refers strictly to the physical act of moving on foot.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of walking, use the gerund form passeggiando.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /pas.sedˈdʒa.re/.
Did you know?
- In many Italian cities, the term passeggiata implies a specific time of day, usually before dinner, when the streets become a stage for seeing and being seen.
- In many Italian towns, the designated area for passeggiare is called il corso, which is often a wide, pedestrian-friendly street specifically for this social activity.
- The verb passeggiare is built from the noun passo, meaning 'step', combined with a suffix that turns a simple action into a repetitive, rhythmic one.
Examples in context
- Mi piace passeggiare nel parco.I like to walk around in the park.
- Possiamo passeggiare in centro dopo cena.We can walk around the city center after dinner.
- Vuoi passeggiare con me stasera?Do you want to walk around with me tonight?
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are deciding what to do on a nice evening.
- SofiaIl tempo è bellissimo oggi.The weather is beautiful today.
- MatteoHai voglia di passeggiare un po'?Do you feel like walking around a bit?
- SofiaSì, volentieri! Andiamo in riva al mare.Yes, I'd love to! Let's go to the seaside.
- MatteoOttima idea, Sofia.Great idea, Sofia.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry passeggiare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries passeggiare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
