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bivio

fork in the road, crossroads

noun BEE-vyoh Rare
Travel & Places Directions

Origin: From Latin bivium ('two roads'), from bi- ('two') + via ('road').

Also means

dilemma, turning point

Usage Note

Bivio literally describes a road junction where a path splits in two. Figuratively it is very common in Italian to mean a decisive choice or dilemma: essere a un bivio ('to be at a crossroads'). The plural is regular: i bivi.

Examples

"Siamo arrivati a un bivio e non sapevamo quale strada prendere."

Natural Translation

We arrived at a fork in the road and didn't know which way to go.

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