Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| intrattenere | /in.trat.teˈne.re/ |
| divertire | /di.verˈti.re/ |
Both verbs mean to entertain, but they are used in different contexts. Use intrattenere when the focus is on the professional act of entertaining an audience or the social act of keeping guests engaged. Use divertire when the focus is on the enjoyment, fun or amusement of the person being entertained.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb intrattenere is composed of the prefix intra- (within/inside) and trattenere (to hold/keep), literally meaning to keep someone within one's presence or attention.
Which one should you use?
intrattenere is used when the focus is on holding someone's attention or providing intellectual/artistic engagement, such as a performer or a host. In contrast, divertire is used when the focus is on the enjoyment, fun or amusement of the person being entertained.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable: /in.trat.teˈne.re/.
When do people say it?
If you want to tell someone to 'Have fun!', you can say Buon divertimento! Additionally, the noun divertimento is commonly used to refer to entertainment or a pastime.
Did you know?
- In Italian, if you say mi hai intrattenuto, you might not be complimenting someone's party skills. Depending on the context, it can mean 'you detained me' or 'you kept me waiting', which could be a complaint.
- The word divertire shares a root with the English word 'divert'. Both come from the Latin 'divertere', which means 'to turn away', suggesting that amusement is a way of turning one's attention away from daily worries.
- The word divertimento can refer to a simple pastime or a complex musical composition, such as a lighthearted piece of classical music.
Examples in context
- A sua moglie piaceva intrattenere.His wife liked to entertain.This sentence shows how a person might enjoy the act of entertaining.Tatoeba #12861536 by Guybrush88, translation #7761049 by karloelkebekio
- L'obiettivo dei miei contenuti è sempre quello di intrattenere.The goal of my content is always to entertain.This sentence describes the goal of content in relation to entertaining.Tatoeba #11090307 by Guybrush88, translation #10220762 by espamatics
- Amo intrattenere.I love to entertain.This sentence expresses a personal love for entertaining.Tatoeba #5981867 by Guybrush88, translation #5754709 by CM
- Mi piace far passare ai miei ospiti un bel momentoI enjoy making my guests have a good time
- Mi piace intrattenere gli amiciI enjoy entertaining friends
- Mi piace divertire i miei compagni di classeI enjoy entertaining my classmates
- Divertiamo gli ospitiWe entertain the guests
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are discussing his job at a comedy club.
- ChiaraTi piace intrattenere il pubblico?Do you like to entertain the audience?
- LorenzoSì, è un lavoro fantastico.Yes, it is a fantastic job.
- ChiaraÈ difficile riuscire a intrattenere le persone?Is it difficult to manage to entertain people?
- LorenzoA volte è una sfida.Sometimes it is a challenge.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “entertain” translations and entries intrattenere, divertire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries divertire, intrattenere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
