sotterraneo

underground

adjective soht-ter-RAH-neh-oh Rare

Origin: Latin subterraneus, 'beneath the earth' (sub + terra).

Also means

subterranean

Usage Note

Sotterraneo also functions as a masculine noun meaning a cellar or underground passage (il sotterraneo). As an adjective it agrees in gender and number: feminine sotterranea, plural sotterranei/sotterranee. Not to be confused with metropolitana (the metro/subway system), which is the noun used for underground rail transport.

Examples

"C'è un passaggio sotterraneo sotto la piazza."

Natural Translation

There is an underground passage beneath the square.

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