basso

/ˈbas.so/adjective / noun · masculineA1 / B2

Very common · Top 1,000

Meaning · adjective

low, short

Parla più basso, il bambino dorme.
Speak more quietly, the baby is sleeping.

Luca è basso, ma corre molto veloce.
Luca is short, but he runs very fast.

Qui l'acqua è bassa?
Is the water shallow here?

Word forms (6)

Use 'basso' for height (e.g., 'un uomo basso'), but 'corto' for length (e.g., 'capelli corti').
Agrees in gender/number: 'basso' (m.sg.), 'bassa' (f.sg.), 'bassi' (m.pl.), 'basse' (f.pl.).
Avoid 'basso' for 'short' in time; use 'breve' (e.g., 'una breve pausa').
also inferiore (comparative), infimo (superlative)

bottom, lower part

Le chiavi sono in basso, vicino alla porta.
The keys are at the bottom, near the door.

Hai sentito il basso in questa canzone?
Did you hear the bass in this song?

Ieri ho comprato un basso usato online.
Yesterday I bought a used bass online.

Word forms (2)

Word	Word forms
basso	masculine · singular
bassi	masculine · plural

As a noun, basso is masculine: il basso, i bassi. Don’t confuse it with the adjective basso/bassa meaning “low” or “short.”
For music, basso can mean the low male voice or the bass part/instrument. In everyday speech, basso elettrico is clearer for “bass guitar.”
For “bottom” in physical space, fondo often fits containers or the sea; basso is more common for the lower part of something.