Skip to content

"pavement, sidewalk" in seven languages

Meaningpavement, sidewalk

Spanish

acera

/aˈθeɾa/

fem.other source · Old Spanish facera 'frontage', from faz 'face' (Latin FACIEM)

French

trottoir

/tʁɔtwaʁ/

masc.other source · derived from trotter 'to trot' (Frankish *trottōn)

Italian

marciapiede

/martʃaˈpjɛde/

masc.other source · compound of marcia 'walk' + piede 'foot'

Portuguese

calçada

/kawˈsadɐ/

fem.other source · Latin (VIAM) CALCEĀTAM 'paved (road)'

Romanian

trotuar

/trotuˈar/

neut.other source · French trottoir

plural: trotuare

Catalan

vorera

/buˈɾeɾə/

fem.other source · from vora 'edge' (Latin ŌRAM)

English

pavement

/ˈpeɪvmənt/

other source · Old French pavement, from Latin PAVĪMENTUM 'beaten floor'

English → Italianpavement, sidewalkmarciapiedeNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

The story

Three unrelated words: Spain walks along the 'face' of the houses, France on the 'trotting place', Italy on the 'walk-on-foot'. English pavement is a false friend for Italian pavimento (floor).

Learn it

Practice the Town & city deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • es¡Camina por la acera!
  • frMarche sur le trottoir !
  • itCammina sul marciapiede!
  • ptAnda na calçada!
  • roMergi pe trotuar!
  • caCamina per la vorera!
  • enWalk on the pavement!

More in Town & city

All Town & city words