Definition
The place where someone lives; a house or home.
Example
Torno a casa dopo una lunga giornata di lavoro.
Show translation
I go back home after a long day of work.
Etymology
From Latin *casa*, meaning "hut" or "cottage" — a humble dwelling of the common people, as opposed to the grander *domus* of the wealthy. Over the centuries, *casa* expanded to cover all kinds of homes and became the everyday word for "house" across all Romance languages.
Cultural note
In Italian culture, *casa* carries deep emotional weight — it is not just a building but the centre of family life. The phrase *casa dolce casa* ("home sweet home") is a beloved cliché. Note that *andare a casa* (to go home) drops the article, while *la casa* (with the article) refers to a specific house. English speakers sometimes confuse *casa* with the Spanish cognate, which works identically in this respect.