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barca
/ˈbar.ka/
boat
Abbiamo comprato una barca nuova per le vacanze estive.
We bought a new boat for the summer holidays.
neutral
A small vessel for travel on water, typically with a hull and sails or an engine.
La barca è ancorata al molo.
The boat is moored at the pier.
Can refer to any type of boat, from rowboats to sailboats or motorboats.
literary or formal
A ship, especially a large one.
La barca solcava le acque del Mediterraneo.
The ship plowed through the waters of the Mediterranean.
Less common in modern usage; often replaced by 'nave' for large vessels.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Gender and Plural
'Barca' is feminine (la barca) and its plural is 'barche' (le barche).
Word Origin
From Latin *barca*, from Ancient Greek βᾶρκας (bârcas), possibly of Semitic origin (compare Hebrew בָּרְקָא (barqā, “boat”)).
Usage Notes
Used broadly for any boat, but 'nave' is preferred for large ships. In southern Italy, 'barca' may colloquially refer to a small fishing vessel.
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese