pantano

swamp

noun pahn-TAH-noh Rare

Also means

quagmire

Usage Note

Pantano refers to a muddy swamp or bog, and is widely used figuratively to mean a quagmire — an inextricable, messy situation: finire nel pantano (to get bogged down). It is masculine, plural pantani. A related adjective is pantanoso (swampy, boggy). Do not confuse with padano (of the Po plain) — similar sound, entirely different meaning.

Examples

"L'esercito rimase bloccato nel pantano."

Natural Translation

The army got stuck in the swamp.

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