detenzione
/de.tenˈt͡sjo.ne/
The English phrase detention translates to Italian as detenzione.
In Italian, detenzione refers to legal or physical detention/imprisonment.
Meaning: punishment given to a student for a minor infraction (noun)
Which one should you use?
While detenzione can mean detention, it is not the word used for a school punishment. For a student receiving a punishment at school, you should use punizione.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/de.tenˈtsjo.ne/', 'syllables': 4, 'stressed_syllable': '3 of 4'}
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use detenzione to refer to school detention. In Italian, this word implies being held by the police or in a prison-like state. To talk about a student's punishment, use punizione instead.
Did you know?
- In many Italian schools, instead of 'detention', students might face 'recupero', which is a compulsory study session to make up for missed learning.
- If you tell an Italian teacher you are in detenzione, they might call the police because you have used a term reserved for criminal arrest.
- The Latin root of detenzione, 'detinere', literally means 'to hold back' or 'to restrain'.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the school hallway.
- ChiaraLorenzo, perché sei ancora a scuola?Lorenzo, why are you still at school?
- LorenzoHo una detenzione per aver usato il cellulare.I have a detention for using my phone.
- ChiaraChe peccato! Finisce presto?What a shame! Does it finish soon?
- LorenzoSì, tra dieci minuti esco.Yes, I'm leaving in ten minutes.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry detenzione, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries detenzione, CC BY-SA 4.0.
