Index
If you’re learning Italian, you may have come across the word ponte, which most commonly means “bridge.” But did you know that in Italian, ponte has another meaning that’s very common in everyday conversation, especially when talking about work and holidays?
Let’s explore both meanings of ponte in Italian:
The literal meaning: a structure
The most direct translation of ponte is “bridge,” the structure that connects two points over a river, road, or valley.
Examples:
- Il ponte di Rialto è uno dei più famosi di Venezia.
(The Rialto Bridge is one of the most famous in Venice.) - Abbiamo attraversato un ponte di legno.
(We crossed a wooden bridge.)
The figurative meaning: a “Bridge” holiday
In Italian, fare il ponte is a very common expression that refers to taking a day off from work to “bridge” a public holiday and the weekend. This happens when a national holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, and people take Monday or Friday off to create a long weekend.
Example:
- If a holiday falls on Thursday, people often take Friday off too. That way, they can enjoy a four-day break, from Thursday to Sunday. In this case, Friday is il ponte.
More examples:
- Il 2 giugno è giovedì: facciamo il ponte e andiamo al mare!
(June 2nd is on a Thursday: let’s take Friday off and go to the beach!) - Quest’anno ci sono tanti ponti!
(This year there are a lot of long weekends!)
This use of ponte is purely idiomatic, and it’s very useful to know if you live or work in Italy, or if you’re just planning a vacation there and want to understand why everything seems closed on certain Fridays or Mondays!
Foto di Modestas Urbonas su Unsplash
