Meaning
speed bump, bump, hump
- speed bump, bump (in the road)
- hump, ridge, small hill
- back (archaic or literary)
In a sentence
Rallenta prima del dosso per non rovinare l'auto.
Slow down before the speed bump so you don't damage the car.
Hai visto quel dosso sulla strada?
Did you see that bump in the road?
Non correre, c'è un dosso davanti.
Don't drive fast, there's a bump ahead.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| dosso | masculine · singular |
| dossi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- For the body, dosso is literary or regional; everyday Italian usually says schiena for back.
- For terrain or roads, dosso suggests a rounded rise; collina is a hill, gobba is a hump, often more abrupt.
- In road signs, dosso often appears in fixed phrases like dosso rallentatore; learners may overuse gobba instead.