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False Friends/🏥 Medical/sedia a rotelle
B1🏥 Medical

Italian word

sedia a rotelle

wheelchair

Looks like

rotating chair

no direct cognate

⚠️ The trap

Learners translate 'sedia a rotelle' literally as 'chair with wheels' or 'rotating chair' — the latter means an office chair ('sedia girevole'). 'Sedia a rotelle' specifically means wheelchair. Don't confuse 'rotelle' (small wheels) with 'girevole' (rotating).

To say "no direct cognate" in Italian:

sedia a rotelle (correct)

"sedia a rotelle" in English means:

wheelchair

Example

"Il corridoio è largo abbastanza per una sedia a rotelle."

"The corridor is wide enough for a wheelchair."

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