trascorrere
/trasˈkor.re.re/
The Italian verb for 'elapse' is trascorrere.
trascorrere is used when referring to time passing or moving by. It is also the standard verb used to mean 'to spend' time, such as when spending a holiday.
Meaning: (of time) to pass or move by (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of trascorrere is trascorso, which is used to express 'to have elapsed' or 'to have passed'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable: /trasˈkor.re.re/.
Did you know?
- While trascorrere means 'to spend' time, you cannot use it for money. To spend money, Italians use spendere, as trascorrere is strictly reserved for the passage of time or movement across a surface.
- The verb trascorrere shares the same root as the English word 'current' and the Italian corrente. Both describe a movement, whether it is water flowing in a stream or time flowing away.
- In a literal sense, trascorrere can describe a physical action, such as a finger sliding across a page or a glance sweeping over a crowd.
Examples in context
- Le ore trascorrono velocemente quando mi diverto.The hours elapse quickly when I'm having fun.
- I giorni scorrono lentamente quando si sta aspettando qualcosa.The days elapse slowly when you're waiting for something.
- Abbiamo chiacchierato mentre il pomeriggio passava.We chatted as the afternoon elapsed.
- Sono trascorse due ore.Two hours have elapsed.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are waiting for a movie to start.
- LorenzoQuanto tempo deve ancora trascorrere?How much more time must pass?
- GiuliaSolo dieci minuti, Lorenzo.Only ten minutes, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoSpero che il film sia bello.I hope the movie is good.
- GiuliaSì, vedrai che passerà velocemente.Yes, you will see that it will pass quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “elapse” translations and entries trascorrere, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
