Italian · Travel & Getting Around

"Map" in Italian: mappa

la mappa

Say it: lah MAHP-pahfeminine · la mappanoun/la ˈmap.pa/

Note: also: la cartina

Map in Italian is la mappa (lah MAHP-pah). Tourists also hear la cartina for a small map, but mappa is the clear everyday headword for a map on paper or on your phone.

Lost in a historic center

Guardo la mappa: siamo vicini.
I'm looking at the map: we're close.
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How to pronounce mappa

Say it

lah MAHP-pah

/la ˈmap.pa/

Mappa stresses MAHP: MAHP-pah. Hold the double p briefly.

"Map" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
la mappamap

Paper or digital map.

sulla mappaon the map

Finding places.

mappa della cittàcity map

Tourist planning.

aprire la mappato open the map

Phone navigation.

How to use mappa in real life

  1. 1Lost in a historic center

    Guardo la mappa: siamo vicini.

    I'm looking at the map: we're close.

    La mappa for the tool.

  2. 2Planning a road trip

    Segna l'hotel sulla mappa.

    Mark the hotel on the map.

    Sulla mappa.

  3. 3Museum handout

    Questa mappa mostra tutte le sale.

    This map shows all the rooms.

    Questa mappa for a printed guide.

Mistakes English speakers make with mappa

Incorrect: Il mappa è vecchia.

Correct: La mappa è vecchia.

Mappa is feminine: la mappa.

Incorrect: Apro il Google map.

Correct: Apro la mappa.

In Italian say la mappa even for a phone map app.

Good to know

Paper mappe still appear at tourist offices, while everyone else opens la mappa on a phone. Cartina is a friendly diminutive you may hear for a small fold-out map—useful, but mappa is the word to learn first.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Navigating to a viewpoint

  1. ChatPal

    Hai la mappa offline?

    Do you have the offline map?

  2. You

    Sì, la mappa è già aperta.

    Yes, the map is already open.

  3. ChatPal

    Secondo la mappa il belvedere è laggiù.

    According to the map the viewpoint is down there.

  4. You

    Ok, seguo la mappa e tu guardi i cartelli.

    Ok, I'll follow the map and you watch the signs.

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"Map" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Map" in Italian

Mappa or cartina?

Mappa is the main word. Cartina is a small map—fine as a synonym, not required.

How do I say on the map?

Sulla mappa.

Is mappa only paper?

No—phone maps are still la mappa.

How do I say city map?

Mappa della città.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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