parola
Non ho capito l'ultima parola che hai detto.
I didn't understand the last word you said.
A single unit of language that carries meaning and can stand alone grammatically.
La parola 'gatto' è composta da quattro lettere.
The word 'gatto' is made up of four letters.
Ha pronunciato una parola difficile da scrivere.
He pronounced a word that's hard to spell.
In Italian, 'parola' can refer to both spoken and written words. It is feminine (la parola, le parole).
A promise or assurance; one's word.
Ti do la mia parola che arriverò in tempo.
I give you my word that I'll arrive on time.
Used in legal or formal contexts to denote a binding assurance.
A short speech or statement, often in a formal setting.
Il sindaco ha tenuto una breve parola durante la cerimonia.
The mayor gave a short speech during the ceremony.
Common in political or ceremonial contexts.
Collocations
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Gender and Plural
'Parola' is feminine. The plural is 'parole' (e.g., 'le parole di una canzone').
Gold Rule
Word vs. Sentence
A 'parola' is a single word, not a full sentence. For a sentence, use 'frase' or 'frasa'.
Word Origin
From Latin 'parabola' (speech, discourse), from Greek 'parabolē' (comparison, narrative), from 'para-' (beside) + 'ballein' (to throw). The shift from 'speech' to 'word' occurred in Vulgar Latin.
Usage Notes
In Italian, 'parola' is a feminine noun. It is often used in phrases like 'a parole' (in words) vs. 'fatti' (in deeds) to contrast promises with actions.