While "gondolier" is the specific term for the iconic Venetian rowers, they are broadly categorized as boatmen, oarsmen, or watermen. In the Venetian dialect, the term used is gondoliere. More generally, they can be described as ferrymen if they are operating a traghetto (a larger gondola used for crossing the Grand Canal). In 2026, the term "oarsman" is technically accurate because a gondolier uses a single long oar (the remo) resting in a carved wooden rowlock called a forcola. Unlike a typical rower who sits, a gondolier stands while rowing, which is a technique known as voga alla veneta. While synonyms like "navigator" or "pilot" might apply in a loose sense, the cultural prestige of the role in 2026 means that almost no other name is used within the tourism industry to preserve the historical romanticism associated with the profession in Venice.