quercia

oak (tree)

noun KWER-chah Rare

Origin: From Latin quercus (oak).

Usage Note

Quercia is the common Italian oak. Its plural is querce (the regular -ia/-e pattern). Oak is a symbol of strength in Italian culture; forte come una quercia (strong as an oak) is a stock simile. Italian oak wood (rovere) is distinct from quercia in timber trade usage, where rovere denotes pedunculate/sessile oak specifically.

Examples

"Sotto la quercia si riposava tutto il pomeriggio."

Natural Translation

He rested under the oak all afternoon.

Literal Translation

Under the oak one-rested all the afternoon.

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