negare
/neˈɡa.re/
The English verb "deny" is translated into Italian as negare.
negare is used to assert that something is not true. It is also used in the sense of refusing or withholding a request or permission.
Meaning: to assert that something is not true (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
negare is a regular second-conjugation verb ending in -are.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /neˈɡa.re/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- While negare means to deny, the Italian word rinnegare means to disown or renounce, such as denying one's faith or a family member, which is a much stronger emotional action.
- If you are 'denying' a request for permission, negare can sound quite heavy and official, almost like a judge issuing a decree.
- The Italian verb negare shares the same Latin ancestor as the English word 'negate', making them distant linguistic cousins.
Examples in context
- Nessuno lo può negare.Nobody can deny that.This sentence shows how to use negare to state that no one can deny a situation.Tatoeba #4511841 by Guybrush88, translation #4497198 by CK
- Nessuno può negare il fatto.No one can deny the fact.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use negare in relation to a specific fact.Tatoeba #4462162 by Guybrush88, translation #47059 by CK
- Devo negare la tua richiesta.I have to deny your request.This sentence demonstrates using negare to express the refusal of a request.Tatoeba #4290008 by Guybrush88, translation #2952172 by CK
- Negare la richiestaDeny the request
- Negare l'accusaDeny the accusation
- Smentire una notiziaDeny a piece of news
- Smentire un'ipotesiDeny a hypothesis
- Ho negato categoricamente l'accusa!I categorically denied the accusation!
- Gli ho detto di noI told him no
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are discussing a rumor at a cafe.
- LorenzoHai sentito? Marco dice di non sapere nulla.Did you hear? Marco says he doesn't know anything.
- GiuliaMa perché vuole negare l'evidenza?But why does he want to deny the evidence?
- LorenzoForse ha paura delle conseguenze.Maybe he is afraid of the consequences.
- GiuliaSpero che non sia un problema per lui.I hope it is not a problem for him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deny” translations and entries negare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries negare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
