estinto
The English word extinct translates to Italian as estinto.
The adjective is used to describe a species of animal or plant, a class of people or a family that has died out completely and is no longer in existence.
Meaning: of an animal or plant species, a class of people, a family, etc.: having died out completely, no longer in existence (adj)
Which one should you use?
While estinto is used in a biological sense to mean extinct, it is also used in legal or formal contexts to refer to a person or a lineage that has died out or no longer exists.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective estinto must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use estinta for the feminine singular, estinti for the masculine plural and estinte for the feminine plural.
Did you know?
- The word stinto can mean 'faded' in Italian, showing how the same root evolved to describe both the total disappearance of a species and the gradual loss of color.
- The term estinto is used in Italian law to describe a right, a debt or a legal obligation that has been canceled or fulfilled.
- In Italian, estinto can describe a fire that has been put out or a flame that has died, not just biological species.
Examples in context
- Il dodo è un animale estinto.The dodo is an extinct animal.This sentence is useful for identifying a dodo as an estinto animal.Tatoeba #1000556 by Guybrush88, translation #14016226 by araneo
- Si pensava che il ghepardo sahariano fosse estinto.The Saharan cheetah was thought to be extinct.This sentence is useful for describing a Saharan cheetah that was thought to be estinto.Tatoeba #9934304 by Guybrush88, translation #8780547 by Amastan
- La specie è estintaThe species is extinct
- La civiltà è scomparsa del tuttoThe civilization is completely extinct
- La lingua non è più esistenteThe language is no longer in existence
- La tradizione è sparitaThe tradition has disappeared
- L'usanza non c'è piùThe custom is no more
- Numerosi animali, a causa dello sfruttamento e dell'inquinamento, sono ormai estinti.Many animals are now extinct due to exploitation and pollution.
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are visiting a natural history museum.
- GiuliaGuarda che scheletro incredibile, Alessandro!Look at that incredible skeleton, Alessandro!
- AlessandroSì, ma purtroppo è un animale estinto.Yes, but unfortunately it is an extinct animal.
- GiuliaQuando è diventato estinto?When did it become extinct?
- AlessandroMigliaia di anni fa.Thousands of years ago.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
