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settentrionale

northern

adjective set-ten-tree-oh-NAH-leh Rare
Travel & Places Directions

Origin: From Latin septentrionalis, from septentrio, 'the seven plough-oxen' (the Big Dipper constellation pointing north).

Usage Note

Settentrionale is a two-form adjective: settentrionale (singular) and settentrionali (plural). It is more formal than the everyday nord used as a modifier (l'Italia settentrionale vs l'Italia del nord). The antonym is meridionale ('southern'). The noun il settentrione (the north) is literary and rarely used in modern speech.

Examples

"Le regioni settentrionali hanno un clima più freddo."

Natural Translation

The northern regions have a colder climate.

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