Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| sbarazzarsi | /zba.ratˈt͡sar.si/ |
| liberarsi | /li.beˈrar.si/ |
| disfarsi |
These verbs are used to express the act of removing or disposing of something or someone. Depending on the context, you might be discarding a physical object, freeing yourself from a burden or disposing of something annoying.
Which one should you use?
While all three forms mean to get rid of something, they have different nuances. sbarazzarsi often carries a connotation of disposing of something unwanted or annoying, sometimes with a sense of haste or decisiveness. liberarsi is used when the focus is on the act of liberation or freeing oneself from a burden, constraint or obligation. disfarsi is frequently used when talking about discarding or throwing away physical objects or getting rid of a habit.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verbs sbarazzarsi, liberarsi and disfarsi are all reflexive. This means the reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi) must change to agree with the subject of the sentence. Additionally, when these verbs are followed by an object, they must be followed by the preposition di.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of sbarazzarsi is /zba.ratˈtsar.si/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- In colloquial Italian, sbarazzarsi can be used as a euphemism for committing a crime to eliminate a witness or a rival, similar to the English 'to take care of' someone.
- In Italian, the phrase liberarsi di is often used in medical contexts to describe the body naturally expelling a toxin or a foreign object.
- The verb disfarsi is the reflexive form of disfare, which means to undo or dismantle. Using disfarsi to 'get rid of' something implies literally undoing the possession of that object.
Examples in context
- Provi a sbarazzarsi di Tom.Try to get rid of Tom.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb sbarazzarsi with a person.Tatoeba #9833413 by Guybrush88, translation #9211194 by CK
- Voleva solo sbarazzarsi di me.He just wanted to get rid of me.Tatoeba #7271118 by Guybrush88, translation #7265139 by Hybrid
- Vuole sbarazzarsi delle formiche.He wants to get rid of the ants.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb sbarazzarsi with an object.Tatoeba #2005052 by Guybrush88, translation #1492039 by CK
- Dobbiamo sbarazzarci di tutte queste vecchie carte nello studio.We need to get rid of all these old papers in the study.
- Bisogna eliminare i prodotti scaduti dal frigorifero.We need to get rid of the expired products from the fridge.
- Ho deciso di buttare via tutti i vestiti vecchi.I've decided to get rid of all the old clothes.
- Ho bisogno di liberarmi di questa vecchia macchina.I need to get rid of this old car.
- Butta via tutte queste vecchie foto.Get rid of all these old photos.
- È necessario eliminare i file inutili sul computer.It is necessary to get rid of useless files on the computer.
- Liberati di tutti questi documenti inutili.Get rid of all these useless documents.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are cleaning the attic.
- MatteoDobbiamo sbarazzarsi di queste vecchie scatole.We need to get rid of these old boxes.
- ChiaraHai ragione, occupano troppo spazio.You're right, they take up too much space.
- MatteoLe portiamo al centro di raccolta?Shall we take them to the collection center?
- ChiaraSì, è il modo migliore per sbarazzarsi di tutto.Yes, it's the best way to get rid of everything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get rid of” translations and entries sbarazzarsi, liberarsi, disfarsi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
