intensificare
/in.ten.si.fiˈka.re/
To escalate in Italian is intensificare.
The verb intensificare is the direct equivalent of 'to intensify' or 'to escalate' when you are describing the act of making a situation, feeling or process stronger.
Meaning: to intensify (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of intensificare is intensificato. In the present subjunctive, the first, second and third person singular forms are intensifichi.
How do you pronounce it?
/in.ten.si.fiˈka.re/. The word has 6 syllables, with the stress on the 5th syllable.
Did you know?
- If a conflict escalates into a fight, an Italian might say it è degenerato, suggesting the situation 'degenerated' rather than intensified.
- In a business context, if a problem is 'escalated' to a manager, Italians might use passare al livello superiore rather than intensificare.
- In many Italian dialects, the root of 'intensity' relates to words for 'stretched' or 'tightened', suggesting a physical tension behind the concept of intensifying.
Examples in context
- La situazione sta aggravandosi rapidamente.The situation is escalating rapidly.
- Le discussioni politiche si inaspriscono ogni giorno.Political discussions escalate every day.
- La situazione si sta peggiorando rapidamente.The situation is escalating rapidly.
- La tensione tra i due paesi sta aggravandosi a causa delle controversie territoriali.Tension between the two countries is escalating due to territorial disputes.
- La situazione politica del paese si è inasprita dopo le elezioni.The country's political situation has worsened after the elections.
- La loro litigata è andata di male in peggio, tanto che hanno deciso di separarsi.Their argument escalated from bad to worse, to the point that they decided to separate.
- Non dobbiamo intensificare il conflitto.We must not intensify the conflict.
- Il rumore ha iniziato a intensificare la tensione.The noise began to intensify the tension.
- È difficile intensificare le ricerche ora.It is difficult to intensify the searches now.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are discussing a business disagreement.
- ChiaraIl cliente è molto arrabbiato, Matteo.The client is very angry, Matteo.
- MatteoSpero che non decidano di intensificare la disputa.I hope they don't decide to escalate the dispute.
- ChiaraDobbiamo risolvere tutto subito.We need to resolve everything immediately.
- MatteoHai ragione, chiamiamolo adesso.You're right, let's call him now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry intensificare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
