Meaning
root
- cause, source
In a sentence
La radice di questa pianta è molto lunga.
The root of this plant is very long.
Non capisco la radice del suo problema.
I don't understand the root of his problem.
Hai trovato la radice del guasto ieri?
Did you find the cause of the breakdown yesterday?
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| radice | feminine · singular |
| radici | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use radice for plant roots and figurative origins. For mathematical roots, radice is also standard: radice quadrata, radice cubica.
- For personal or cultural background, Italians often say avere radici in + place, not use radice alone.
- To mean the main reason, causa is more direct; radice sounds more like the deep underlying source.