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funicolare

funicular

adjective noun foo-nee-koh-LAH-reh Rare
Travel & Places Transportation

Origin: Latin funiculus (small rope, cord)

Also means

cable-railway

Usage Note

Funicolare functions both as an adjective (relating to ropes or cables) and as a noun — la funicolare is a cable railway that hauls cars up steep hills using a cable, common in Italian mountain towns and Naples. The famous Neapolitan song 'Funiculì, Funiculà' was written in 1880 to celebrate the opening of the Vesuvius funicular. As a noun it is feminine.

Examples

"Abbiamo preso la funicolare per salire al castello."

Natural Translation

We took the funicular to go up to the castle.

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