Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| urtare | /urˈta.re/ |
| scontrarsi | /skonˈtrar.si/ |
scontrarsi is used to describe making a direct impact, which can be both a physical event, such as cars colliding or a figurative one, such as when ideas or interests clash. The verb urtare can also be used, but it typically describes a lighter bump or hitting an object.
Which one should you use?
scontrarsi implies a violent collision between two moving objects, whereas urtare is often used for a lighter bump or hitting an object, similar to 'to bump into'.
How does it change in a sentence?
scontrarsi is a reflexive verb, indicated by the -si ending. Because it is reflexive, it must be used with auxiliary verbs like essere when forming compound tenses, such as si sono scontrati for 'they collided'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /skonˈtrar.si/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word urtare shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'hurt', both descending from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to smash' or 'to break'.
- While scontrarsi is used for physical collisions, it is also the standard way to describe a heated argument or a clash of opinions between two people.
- In Italian, if you accidentally bump into someone on the street, you would use urtare but the social response is often scusa or permesso rather than a formal apology.
Examples in context
- Le due macchine si sono scontrateThe two cars collided.
- I treni sono entrati in collisioneThe trains collided.
- Mi sono sbattuto contro la porta mentre cercavo le chiaviI banged against the door while looking for the keys.
- Due navi potrebbero scontrarsi nella nebbia.Two ships might collide in the fog.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “collide” translations and entries urtare, scontrarsi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries urtare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
