retromarcia

reverse gear

noun reh-troh-MAR-chah Rare

Usage Note

Retromarcia is specifically the reverse gear of a vehicle: fare retromarcia means to reverse (a car). Figuratively it means to backtrack on a decision or position: il governo ha fatto retromarcia sulla riforma (the government reversed course on the reform). It is invariable in the plural: le retromarce is rarely used; the invariable form retromarcia covers both.

Examples

"Inserisci la retromarcia per uscire dal parcheggio."

Natural Translation

Engage reverse gear to exit the car park.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Tu vs Lei: Formal & Informal "You" in Italian

When in doubt, use Lei. Here's exactly when to use tu vs Lei in Italian — the who-to-use-with map, the verb and possessive shifts, and how to switch politely.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 min read