quarantena

/kwa.ran.ˈteː.na/
nounIntermediate
general

A period of isolation to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, typically lasting 40 days (historically) or 14 days (modern).

I medici hanno consigliato una quarantena di due settimane per chi è entrato in contatto con il virus.

Doctors recommended a two-week quarantine for those who came into contact with the virus.

💡

The term originates from the Italian practice of isolating ships for 40 days (quaranta giorni) to prevent the spread of plague in the 14th century.

Collocations

quarantena obbligatoriamandatory quarantinequarantena volontariavoluntary quarantinerompere la quarantenabreak quarantine

Synonyms

Antonyms

💡Pro Tip

Historical Context

The term 'quarantena' has its roots in medieval Venice, where ships were isolated for 40 days to prevent the spread of the plague.

📖Word Origin

From Italian 'quaranta giorni' (forty days), referring to the 40-day isolation period imposed on ships arriving in Venice during the Black Death to prevent the spread of plague.

📝Usage Notes

In modern usage, 'quarantena' typically refers to a 14-day isolation period, though the duration can vary depending on the disease and local regulations.

Word Breakdown

quaranta
forty
root
+
-ena
days
suffix
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese