gondolier

gondolier — noun

1. a person who works on the canals of Venice, rowing a long narrow boat called a g

1.nounC1
Definition

a person who works on the canals of Venice, rowing a long narrow boat called a gondola that carries passengers from place to place

Example

The gondolier sang a traditional Italian song as he guided the boat through the narrow canal.

collocation: sang a traditional song

Tourists in Venice often hire a gondolier for a ride under the Bridge of Sighs.

collocation: hire a gondolier

Common collocations
  • Venetian gondolier
  • gondolier's oar
  • gondolier sang
  • gondolier rowed
  • gondolier steered
  • hire a gondolier
  • young gondolier
Synonyms
  • boatman

    general term for someone who operates a boat; gondolier is specific to Venice

  • rower

    emphasises the physical action; gondolier uses a unique single-oar technique

  • oarsman

    formal term; gondolier is more culturally specific and informal in feel

Usage Note

Originally a male-only profession in Venice, the term is now used for people of any gender who operate gondolas. Do not use 'gondolier' for rowers on other types of boats.

Common Mistakes

The gondolier took us across the lake.
The gondolier took us through the canals of Venice.
gondoliers work specifically on Venetian canals, not on lakes or rivers.
We hired a gondolier to row us on the river.
We hired a gondolier to row us through the canals.
gondolas operate on canals, not on open rivers.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'boatman' is a broad term for anyone who operates a boat for hire, and 'rower' describes the physical action of using oars, 'gondolier' is culturally anchored in Venice and the gondola. An 'oarsman' is typically associated with racing or sporting rowing, not passenger transport. A 'ferryman' carries passengers across a short stretch of water on a regular route, whereas a gondolier navigates winding canals on demand. For example, you would say 'the gondolier took us past the old palaces', not 'the boatman took us past the old palaces' — the latter suggests a generic harbour or lake setting.

boatman ↗roweroarsmanferryman

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • row a gondola
  • navigate the canals
  • sing a traditional song
  • push the oar

Prepositions

  • on the canals of
  • through the canals
  • past the palaces

Etymology

ItalianVenetianEnglish

From Italian 'gondoliere', which is built from 'gondola' (the boat) plus the agent suffix '-iere' (equivalent to English '-er'). The word entered English in the early 1600s as Venice was a popular destination for wealthy young Europeans on the Grand Tour.