fosso

ditch

noun FOHS-soh Less Common

Origin: from Latin fossum, 'dug'

Also means

trench

Usage Note

Fosso is a ditch or drainage channel, masculine, plural fossi. The related feminine fossa means a 'pit' or 'grave', so the gender shift changes the sense. A car going nel fosso has ended up in the roadside ditch.

Examples

"L'auto è finita nel fosso."

Natural Translation

The car ended up in the ditch.

Literal Translation

The-car is ended in-the ditch.

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