Word meaning
Vaporetto
A public waterbus used on the canals and lagoon of Venice, Italy.
Definition
A vaporetto is a motorized passenger boat that functions as Venice’s main form of public water transport. Routes connect the historic islands, major stops along the Grand Canal, and nearby lagoon destinations. Travelers often use vaporetti the way other cities use buses or metro lines.
Pronunciation
/ˌvæpəˈrɛtoʊ/ (approx. vah-puh-RET-oh)
Origin / etymology
From Italian vaporetto, a diminutive related to vapore (“steam”), originally referring to small steam-powered boats. The modern fleet is motorized, but the historical name remains.
Example sentences
- We took the vaporetto from the train station to San Marco.
- Locals rely on the vaporetto network much like a city bus system.
In Wordloom puzzles
This word appears in a published puzzle on this site. The connection below is based on our original editorial grouping, not on any third-party puzzle.
- Harbor Threads — Monday, October 19, 2026
Related words
- Gondola — A long, narrow flat-bottomed boat traditionally used on the canals of Venice; also, by extension, a suspended passenger cabin.
References
- Merriam-Webster — vaporetto — English dictionary definition
- Oxford English Dictionary / lexicographic consensus — Italian diminutive of vapore; Venice public waterbus sense