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portone

main entrance

noun por-TOH-neh Rare

Also means

large door

Usage Note

Portone is an augmentative of porta (door) — the large, imposing main entrance door of a building, typically a palazzo or apartment block. Pressing the citofono (intercom) next to the portone is the standard way to enter an Italian apartment building. It is always the street-level main door, never an interior one.

Examples

"Il portone del palazzo era sempre chiuso."

Natural Translation

The main entrance of the building was always locked.

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