debito
/ˈde.bi.to/masculine
The English phrase debt is translated into Italian as debito. Wiktionary also lists buffo.
Meaning: money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| debito | /ˈde.bi.to/ /ˈdɛ.bi.to/ |
masculine |
| buffo | /ˈbuf.fo/ | masculine |
debito is the most common and standard term for debt. To express the state of owing money, Italians use the verb avere (to have) with debito, such as in the phrase avere un debito (to have a debt). If you want to describe the action of falling into debt, you can use the reflexive verb indebitarsi. Other related terms include obbligazione, which refers to a more binding form of debt like loans or bonds and arretrato, which refers to arrears or a backlog of payments.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of debito is debiti.
How do you pronounce it?
debito is pronounced /ˈde.bi.to/. The stress is on the first of the three syllables.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Gli devo un debito.I owe him a debt.This sentence is useful for showing how to use debito to express owing someone.Tatoeba #1203100 by Guybrush88, translation #249978 by CK
- Ripagò il suo debito.He paid off his debt.This sentence is useful for using debito to describe paying something off.Tatoeba #8651931 by Guybrush88, translation #7385725 by CH
- Una promessa è un debito.A promise is a debt.This sentence is useful for using debito in a metaphorical sense regarding a promise.Tatoeba #3241240 by Guybrush88, translation #2534999 by Alois
- Ho un debito con mio fratello.I have a debt with my brother.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are discussing their finances.
- LorenzoHo un debito con la banca.I have a debt with the bank.
- GiuliaÈ un debito molto grande?Is it a very large debt?
- LorenzoSì, ma lo pagherò presto.Yes, but I will pay it soon.
- GiuliaSpero che tu riesca a risolverlo.I hope you can resolve it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “debt” translations and entries debito, buffo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buffo, debito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
