vomitare
/vo.miˈta.re/
To barf in Italian is vomitare.
The term refers to the act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard, neutral term used in both medical and everyday contexts is vomitare. If you want to be highly formal, you can use the expression espellere il contenuto dello stomaco. In very informal settings, Italians might use the more euphemistic term rimettere to mean 'to throw up' or 'to be sick'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form for the act or substance of vomiting is il vomito.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /vo.miˈta.re/.
Did you know?
- The polite euphemism rimettere literally means 'to put back', implying the stomach is simply returning what it cannot digest.
- Ancient Romans used the Latin ancestor of vomitare to describe not just physical purging but also a form of emotional release.
- In Italian, vomitare can be used metaphorically to describe someone who speaks or writes in an unfiltered, excessive or uncontrolled manner.
Examples in context
- Ho dovuto vomitare dopo aver mangiato quel cibo scadente.I had to barf after eating that spoiled food.
- Mi sento male e ho voglia di vomitare.I feel sick and I feel like vomiting.
- Non riusciva a smettere di vomitare tutta la notte.He could not stop vomiting all night.
- Dopo aver mangiato troppo, ho iniziato a vomitare.After eating too much, I started to vomit.
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are at home after a long night of partying.
- SofiaAlessandro, come ti senti? Sembri molto pallido.Alessandro, how do you feel? You look very pale.
- AlessandroNon sto bene, ho paura di vomitare.I don't feel well, I'm afraid I'm going to vomit.
- SofiaPrendi un po' d'acqua e siediti un momento.Have some water and sit down for a moment.
- AlessandroGrazie, Sofia. Ho lo stomaco sottosopra.Thanks, Sofia. My stomach is upside down.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vomitare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vomitare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
