Meaning & use
piazza
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A public square in an Italian town, often with cafes and surrounded by historic buildings.
Grammar: Use 'a piazza' or 'the piazza'; plural 'piazzas'.
Patterns
- in the piazza
- a bustling piazza
- overlook the piazza
We sat in a sunny piazza eating gelato and watching people.
The cathedral faces the main piazza of the town.
Every evening, locals gather in the piazza to chat.
nouncountableAmericanregional
A covered porch or veranda, especially in some parts of the US.
Grammar: Regional American use; often attached to a house.
Patterns
- on the piazza
- a front piazza
They drank iced tea on the piazza while the sun set.
The old house has a wide piazza with white columns.
Word forms
| plural | piazzas |
|---|
Common combinations
- main piazza
- The main piazza was crowded with tourists.
- town piazza
- A fountain stands in the center of the town piazza.
- in the piazza
- We met in the piazza by the clock tower.
- overlook the piazza
- Our hotel room overlooks the piazza.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: piazza or pizza? piazza or plaza?
piazza vs pizza
Pizza is the food; piazza is a public square. They sound similar but are different words.
piazza vs plaza
Plaza is a public square too, but 'piazza' is more strongly associated with Italy.
Practice
In many Italian towns, people meet in the ______ in the evening to relax and talk.
Choose one answer.
A 'piazza' is an Italian public square. 'Pizza' is food, 'plaza' is similar but less specific to Italy, and 'porch' is part of a house.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “piazza”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.