I was trying to translate manicomio in English, and I remembered that a friend of mine told me the English word was asylum.
Looking at the OALD, I noticed it is said to be an old use of the word.
(old use) a hospital where people who were mentally ill could be cared for, often for a long time
Google Translate gives me the following words:
- Asylum
- Mental Hospital (This seems closer to ospedale psichiatrico.)
- Madhouse
- Bedlam
I assume that Google Translate orders the words in a specific order, but the fact the first one is asylum confuses me.
What is the current word I should used to mean the place where people with mental ill are cared for?
Notice that in Italian manicomio is also used for a situation where there is a lot of noise, activity, and confusion (i.e. pandemonium, which has also an equivalent in the Italian pandemonio); I guess that is the reason why Google translate suggests bedlam.
Best Answer
Mental hospital (which, as you say, corresponds to ospedale psichiatrico) is a reasonable choice for the lunatic asylum sense of manicomio. Psychiatric hospital or psychiatric ward also are reasonable. In some instances, rehab and retreat may apply. Loony bin might also apply but has an entirely different tone.