strisce pedonali
feminine
The English phrase "zebra crossing" is translated into Italian as strisce pedonali. Wiktionary also lists attraversamento zebrato.
Meaning: pedestrian crossing featuring broad white stripes (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| strisce pedonali | feminine |
| attraversamento zebrato | masculine |
Both terms are used to describe a pedestrian crossing featuring broad white stripes. You might also use the common alternative term passaggio pedonale to describe a pedestrian crossing in general.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase strisce pedonali literally translates to "pedestrian stripes". The phrase attraversamento zebrato literally means "zebra-patterned crossing".
Which one should you use?
Strisce pedonali is the most common way to refer to the physical white stripes on the road. In contrast, attraversamento zebrato refers more to the concept of the crossing itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
Strisce pedonali is a feminine plural noun phrase. Attraversamento zebrato is a masculine singular noun phrase.
Did you know?
- In Italy, it is a common urban legend that the 'white stripes' of the strisce pedonali provide a legal shield, but pedestrians are still fined if they cross on a red light.
- The word strisce can also refer to 'strips' of fabric or 'streaks' of luck, making the term for a crossing sound like a series of random bands.
- In some Italian regions, people colloquially refer to the crossing simply as le strisce ('the stripes'), omitting the word 'pedestrian' entirely.
Examples in context
- Le strisce pedonali sono sbiadite.The zebra crossings are faded.
- Non ci sono strisce pedonali qui.There are no zebra crossings here.
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are walking in the city center.
- FrancescoDove possiamo attraversare la strada?Where can we cross the street?
- GiuliaC'è un incrocio con le strisce pedonali poco lontano.There is a crossing with zebra crossings a little further away.
- FrancescoVa bene, andiamo verso quelle strisce pedonali.Okay, let's go towards those zebra crossings.
- GiuliaSì, è molto più sicuro per noi.Yes, it is much safer for us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zebra crossing” translations and entries strisce pedonali, attraversamento zebrato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
