terremoto
/ter.reˈmo.to/noun★Intermediate
general
A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movements in the Earth's crust.
Abbiamo sentito un forte terremoto stamattina.
We felt a strong earthquake this morning.
💡
The term is commonly used to describe seismic events that cause significant damage or disruption.
Collocations
scala RichterRichter scaleepicentroepicentermagnitudomagnitude
Synonyms
Related Phrases
essere scosso da un terremotophrase
to be shaken by an earthquake
zona sismicaphrase
seismic zone
💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Terremoto' is the standard term for an earthquake in Italian. Avoid using 'sisma' unless in a scientific context.
📖Word Origin
From Latin 'terra' (earth) + 'motus' (movement), meaning 'movement of the earth'.
📝Usage Notes
In Italian, 'terremoto' is the most common term for an earthquake. The word is often used in news reports and scientific contexts.
Word Breakdown
terra
earth
rootmoto
movement
rootDizionario Italiano-Inglese