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nounnounadjectiveadverb

il basso

low

Si dice di qualcosa che ha poca altezza o che si trova vicino al suolo. Può anche riferirsi a una voce o a un suono con tono grave.

Definition & meaning

The word basso primarily functions as an adjective in Italian with several distinct meanings depending on the context:

  1. Physical height or position: It describes someone or something that is not tall or is located close to the ground. For example, a "low wall" (muro basso) or a "short person" (persona bassa).
  2. Sound and Voice: It refers to a low-pitched frequency (deep) or a soft volume (quiet). For instance, "low volume" (volume basso) or a "low voice" (voce bassa).
  3. Quantity or Value: It indicates a small amount or a low level on a scale, such as "low temperatures" (temperature basse) or "low prices" (prezzi bassi).
  4. Social or Moral status: It can describe something of poor quality, vulgarity, or a socially inferior rank, such as the "Middle Ages" (Basso Medioevo) or "lowly behavior" (istinti bassi).
  5. Geography: It denotes the southern part of a region or a territory closer to the sea level, such as "Lower Egypt" (Basso Egitto).

As a noun, basso refers to:

  1. Music: The lowest adult male singing voice (bass) or a musical instrument that produces low-frequency sounds, such as the "bass guitar" (basso elettrico) or the "double bass" (contrabbasso).
  2. Location: The lower part of something. In some Italian cities, it also refers to a specific type of small ground-floor apartment opening directly onto the street.

Grammar & Word origin

The word derives from the Late Latin bassus, which originally meant "thick," "fat," or "short." Unlike Classical Latin which used humilis for "low," bassus became the standard term in Romance languages.

Grammatically, basso is an adjective that must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies:

  • basso (masculine singular)
  • bassa (feminine singular)
  • bassi (masculine plural)
  • basse (feminine plural)

When used as a noun, it is masculine (il basso).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • piccolo (small/short, when referring to stature)
  • breve (short, usually regarding duration or length)
  • ridotto (reduced/low)
  • grave (deep/low-pitched, regarding sound)
  • sommesso (subdued/quiet, regarding voice)
  • volgare (vulgar/lowly)
  • infimo (lowest/very poor quality)

Antonyms

  • alto (high/tall)
  • elevato (elevated/high)
  • acuto (high-pitched, regarding sound)
  • forte (loud/strong)
  • nobile (noble/high-ranking)
  • profondo (deep - though basso can mean deep in music, profondo is the opposite of superficiale or basso in terms of verticality)

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Examples

Il tavolo è troppo basso per me.adjective

The table is too low for me.

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