vacanza

Vacanza is the Italian word for a period of leisure or travel away from work, commonly translated as vacation or holiday in English. The term, with its plural form vacanze, denotes leisure time, a break from routine, or a trip spent away from home. A single trip is una vacanza, while the concept in general refers to time off used for rest or travel. For legally mandated time off from work, the term ferie is used; vacanza emphasizes leisure time and travel rather than formal entitlement.

Etymology: Vacanza derives from Latin vacans, meaning "being free, unoccupied," from vacare, "to be unoccupied." The word is widely used in everyday Italian and in tourism contexts.

Usage: In Italian, andare in vacanza means to go on vacation, while essere in vacanza or stare in vacanza means to be on holiday. Ferie refers to annual leave provided by law or by an employer, whereas vacanza focuses on leisure travel and time away from work.

Cultural context: In Italy, vacation patterns often involve longer breaks in the summer, with travel to coastal or mountainous destinations. The August period around Ferragosto is a prominent part of the vacation cycle, though practices vary by region and year. The concept of vacation intersects with family time, tourism, and regional traditions.

See also: holiday, vacation, ferie, viaggio, turismo, lingua italiana.

Notes on usage: Vacanza is a feminine noun; its plural is vacanze. Common phrases include fare vacanze, andare in vacanza, essere in vacanza, and passare le vacanze.