Lesson 176: Choosing the right translation -- Which window?

The English word, window, is highly versatile. In Italian, one must be careful because there are different words depending upon the kind of window you're talking out. See the uses below:

• la finestra is used to describe a window in a building or a home or in reference to computers
  
  la busta a finestra window envelope
  la finestra della stanza da letto bedroom window
  il davanzale window sill
  il telaio di finestra window frame
  la tendina, la tenda window shade
  
  Note these two important words when talking about the glass of a window:
  
  Il vetro glass of a window
  fracassare il vetro di finestra to smash a window
  literally: to smash the glass of a window
  
  
• il finestrino is a window that you would find in a car, truck, train.
  
  Some related words:
  i vetri elettrici power windows
  
  
• l'oblò is the window that you would find in an appliance, such as your stove, microwave, etc.
  
  
• la vetrina is used to describe a shop or store window, which often house displays.
  
  
• lo sportello is a window at a bank, office, train station, metro station or another place where behind the window someone stands to take your money to pay for a service or a ticket