Meaning
habit, cassock, robe
- A long ankle-length garment worn by monks, priests, or friars.
In a sentence
I monaci camminavano in silenzio nel chiostro indossando la tonaca.
The monks walked quietly in the cloister wearing their habit.
Il frate sistemò la corda attorno alla propria tonaca marrone.
The friar adjusted the cord around his brown habit.
Perché ha deciso di togliere la tonaca e abbandonare il sacerdozio?
Why did he decide to leave the cloth and abandon the priesthood?
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| tonaca | feminine · singular |
| tonache | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Featured in the common proverb 'L'abito non fa il monaco' (clothes don't make the man), sometimes phrased with tonaca.