sminuire
/zmi.nuˈi.re/
To belittle in Italian is sminuire.
The verb sminuire means to knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is. It can be used to express the act of belittling or disparaging something.
Meaning: to knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of the prefix s- (which often indicates reversal or negation) and minuire (to make small/diminish), literally meaning to make smaller.
Which one should you use?
While sminuire is used for belittling achievements or importance, sminuzzare is used for the physical act of mincing or crumbling food into tiny pieces.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present indicative form is sminuisce, and the past participle is sminuito.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /zmi.nuˈi.re/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The root word minuire is a direct relative of the English word 'diminish'. Both derive from the Latin minuere, meaning to make smaller.
- The verb minuire is rarely used on its own in modern spoken Italian, almost always appearing as sminuire or in technical contexts.
- Even though sminuire is the standard verb, it carries a much more deliberate and intentional tone than the English 'to diminish'.
Examples in context
- Sarebbe molto crudele sminuire l'impegno di qualcuno.It would be very cruel to belittle someone's effort.This sentence shows how to use sminuire to describe the cruelty of belittling effort.Tatoeba #13217899 by Nuel, translation #13217898 by Nuel
- È ingiusto sminuire gli sforzi degli studenti.It's unfair to belittle the students' efforts.
- Non è corretto denigrare il lavoro degli altri.It's not right to denigrate other people's work.
- Non è mai giustificato umiliare qualcuno per le proprie opinioni.It's never justified to humiliate someone for their opinions.
- Non cercare di minimizzare le mie opinioni.Don't try to belittle my opinions.
- Non posso credere che tu stia svalutando le tue abilità.I can't believe you're belittling your own skills.
- Non devi sminuire il suo successo.You should not belittle her success.
- È sbagliato sminuire i problemi degli altri.It is wrong to belittle other people's problems.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are discussing a colleague's behavior at work.
- LorenzoIl capo ha cercato di sminuire il mio lavoro oggi.The boss tried to belittle my work today.
- MartinaDavvero? È un comportamento molto scorretto.Really? That is very unfair behavior.
- LorenzoSì, mi sono sentito molto sminuito.Yes, I felt very belittled.
- MartinaNon ascoltarlo, Lorenzo, il tuo contributo è fondamentale.Don't listen to him, Lorenzo, your contribution is fundamental.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “belittle” translations and entries sminuire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
