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atletica

athletics

noun aht-LEH-tee-kah Rare

Origin: Greek athletikos (of contests)

Usage Note

Atletica is feminine and almost always used with the qualifier leggera: l'atletica leggera (track and field). Without leggera it can refer to sport in general or to weightlifting/gymnastics. Stress falls on the second syllable — antepenultimate.

Examples

"Gareggia nell'atletica leggera da anni."

Natural Translation

She has been competing in athletics for years.

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