How to Say "Contraband" in Italian

contrabbando

/kon.trabˈban.do/masculine

The English phrase "contraband" is translated into Italian as contrabbando.

The noun contrabbando refers to the act of smuggling or to the illegal goods themselves that are prohibited from being traded.

Meaning: goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

contrabbando is a masculine noun. If you want to express the action of smuggling, you should use the verb contrabbandare.

The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /kon.trabˈban.do/.

In Italian culture, the contrabbandiere or smuggler was historically romanticized as a folk hero, especially in rural areas where they bypassed oppressive state taxes to provide essential goods to poor villagers.
In modern Italian, contrabbando is frequently used metaphorically in slang to describe any unofficial or 'under the table' deal, even if the items being exchanged are perfectly legal. It captures the spirit of bypassing official channels rather than just the illegality of the goods themselves.
Historically, the person engaged in contrabbando was not just breaking a trade law but was acting against a bando, which was a decree that could legally exile a person from society.

Signor Rossi, ha mai avuto a che fare con la merce di contrabbando?
Mr. Rossi, have you ever dealt with contraband goods?
No, non ho mai avuto nulla a che fare con articoli illeciti.
No, I have never had anything to do with illicit articles.
Ma hai visto quella roba di contrabbando?
Did you see that contraband stuff?
Sì! Era merce clandestina, di sicuro!
Yes! It was definitely clandestine goods!
La polizia ha sequestrato la merce di contrabbando.
The police seized the contraband goods.
Il contrabbando di opere d'arte è un reato grave.
The smuggling of works of art is a serious crime.
Il controllo delle merci serve a fermare il contrabbando.
The inspection of goods serves to stop smuggling.

Chiara and Alessandro are discussing a news report about a police raid.

Chiara

Hai visto le notizie oggi, Alessandro?
Did you see the news today, Alessandro?
Alessandro

Sì, hanno sequestrato molto contrabbando al porto.
Yes, they seized a lot of contraband at the port.
Chiara

Che cosa stavano trasportando?
What were they transporting?
Alessandro

Erano principalmente alcolici e tabacchi.
It was mainly alcohol and tobacco.

Sources

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