Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| sconfiggere | /skonˈfid.d͡ʒe.re/ |
| battere | /ˈbat.te.re/ |
| vincere | /ˈvin.t͡ʃe.re/ |
The verbs in this group refer to overcoming an opponent in a battle, contest or competition. The related nouns sconfitta and disfatta describe the act of being defeated or the state of losing.
Which one should you use?
While sconfiggere means to defeat an opponent, vincere means to win the contest itself. For the nouns, sconfitta is a standard word for a defeat, whereas disfatta implies a much more heavy, disastrous or humiliating defeat. Regarding the verbs, battere is often used in a more colloquial or competitive sense, such as beating someone at a game or a sport, whereas sconfiggere sounds more formal or decisive.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of sconfiggere is sconfitto, which is used to describe someone who has been defeated.
How do you pronounce it?
/skonˈfid.dʒe.re/. The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word vincere shares the same ancient root as the English word 'convict'. Both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root for 'overcoming'.
- The verb battere is also used in the phrase battere i piedi, which means 'to stamp one's feet'. This is used to express stubbornness or a refusal to be defeated in an argument.
- The verb battere is also the root for the Italian word for 'heartbeat', showing how the idea of 'striking' or 'beating' extends to rhythmic pulses.
Examples in context
- Non mi può sconfiggere.You can't defeat me.This sentence is useful for showing the ability to defeat someone with sconfiggere.Tatoeba #5180945 by Guybrush88, translation #1951464 by CK
- Non ci sconfiggerete mai.You'll never defeat us.This sentence is useful for expressing that an opponent will never defeat a group with sconfiggere.Tatoeba #6061485 by Guybrush88, translation #2713504 by CK
- Tom ci potrebbe sconfiggere.Tom might defeat us.This sentence is useful for expressing the possibility of someone defeating a group with sconfiggere.Tatoeba #9258192 by Guybrush88, translation #9258190 by CK
- La squadra di calcio ha subito una sconfittaThe football team suffered a defeat
- Siamo stati completamente sconfitti nella partita di calcetto ieri seraWe were completely defeated in the futsal match last night
- Quella riunione è stata un vero pasticcio, hanno subito una sconfitta totaleThat meeting was a real mess, they suffered a total defeat
- La politica estera del paese ha subito una sconfitta significativaThe country's foreign policy suffered a significant defeat
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are talking about a chess match.
- FrancescoCredi di poter sconfiggere il campione?Do you think you can defeat the champion?
- ChiaraSì, sono pronta a sconfiggere chiunque.Yes, I am ready to defeat anyone.
- FrancescoÈ difficile sconfiggere un giocatore così forte.It is difficult to defeat such a strong player.
- ChiaraVedrai che riuscirò a sconfiggerlo.You'll see that I will manage to defeat him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “defeat” translations and entries sconfiggere, battere, vincere, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries battere, sconfiggere, vincere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
