Parallel infantry terminology. English as the NATO operational standard, Italian / Brazilian Portuguese / French as the native languages most common among international volunteers. Memorising the first column is mandatory; the others are useful for integration and to avoid cross-language misinterpretation.
Manoeuvre and combat
| EN | IT | PT-BR | FR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squad | Squadra | Esquadra | Groupe |
| Fire team | Fire team | Fire team | Trinôme / Binôme |
| Platoon | Plotone | Pelotão | Section |
| Company | Compagnia | Companhia | Compagnie |
| Patrol | Pattuglia | Patrulha | Patrouille |
| Ambush | Imboscata | Emboscada | Embuscade |
| Cover | Riparo (balistico) | Cobertura | Couvert |
| Concealment | Occultamento | Ocultação | Camouflage / dissimulation |
| Bound | Balzo | Salto / lance | Bond |
| Overwatch | Copertura visiva di sostegno | Cobertura de apoio | Couverture / surveillance |
| Flank | Fianco | Flanco | Flanc |
| Suppress | Sopprimere col fuoco | Suprimir com fogo | Neutraliser par le feu |
| Engage | Ingaggiare | Engajar | Engager |
| Break contact | Rompere il contatto | Quebrar contato | Rompre le contact |
| Stack | Pila (entrata urbana) | Pilha | File / stick |
| Breach | Breccia / ingresso forzato | Brecha / arrombamento | Brèche / franchissement |
| Clear (a room) | Bonificare | Limpar | Nettoyer |
| Hold | Tenere (posizione) | Manter / segurar | Tenir |
| Withdraw | Ripiegare | Recuar | Se replier |
| Reinforce | Rinforzare | Reforçar | Renforcer |
| Rally point | Punto di raccolta | Ponto de reunião | Point de regroupement |
| Linkup | Giunzione tra unità | Encontro entre unidades | Jonction |
| Sector of fire | Settore di tiro | Setor de tiro | Secteur de tir |
| Field of fire | Campo di tiro | Campo de tiro | Champ de tir |
| Dead ground | Zona morta | Zona morta | Angle mort / zone morte |
| High ground | Quota dominante | Cota dominante | Hauteur / point haut |
| Defilade | Defilato | Defilada | Défilement |
| Choke point | Strozzatura | Estrangulamento | Goulet d'étranglement |
| Avenue of approach | Direttrice di avvicinamento | Avenida de aproximação | Voie d'approche |
| Foxhole / fighting position | Buca di combattimento | Toca de combate | Trou de combat / poste |
| Sandbag | Sacchetto di sabbia | Saco de areia | Sac de sable |
| Trench | Trincea | Trincheira | Tranchée |
| Bunker | Bunker / casamatta | Bunker | Bunker / casemate |
| Hardened position | Posizione fortificata | Posição fortificada | Position durcie |
Usage notes
- On radio: ALWAYS English term (NATO standard)
- In native-language briefings: native term + (EN in parentheses) at first occurrence
- Never translate 'cover' as generic 'covering': it specifically means ballistic shelter
- 'Concealment' ≠ 'cover': the former is visual only, the latter stops bullets
- 'Bound' is a single rush, 'bounding overwatch' is the alternating movement of two elements