ansimare
/an.siˈma.re/
To pant in Italian is ansimare.
The verb ansimare is used to describe breathing with short, quick breaths, which typically occurs after heavy physical exercise or during moments of high excitement.
How does it change in a sentence?
ansimare is an intransitive verb, so it does not take a direct object. To express the continuous action of panting, you use the gerund form ansimando.
How do you pronounce it?
/an.siˈma.re/. The word has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The concept of panting is linked to the Italian idiom ansimare per, which can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is desperately striving or longing for something.
- The word fiato, used in phrases about panting, comes from the Latin 'flatus', which is also the root of the English word 'inflation'.
- The sound of panting is often represented in Italian comics and literature with the onomatopoeia ah ah, which differs from the English 'huff puff'.
Examples in context
- Vorrei acquistare un nuovo paio di pantaloni per il lavoro.I would like to buy a new pair of pants for work.
- Mi piace come ti sta quel pantalone.I like how those pants look on you.
- Dove posso trovare i pantaloni?Where can I find pants?
- C'è uno spogliatoio dove posso provarmi i pantaloni?Is there a fitting room where I can try on the pants?
- Sento ansimare l'atleta che arriva al traguardo.I hear the athlete panting as he reaches the finish line.
- Non riusciva a parlare senza ansimare per la fatica.He couldn't speak without panting from exhaustion.
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina have just finished running up a flight of stairs.
- MatteoPerché ansimare così tanto?Why are you panting so much?
- MartinaQueste scale sono davvero troppo ripide.These stairs are really too steep.
- MatteoHai ragione, sono stanco anch'io.You're right, I'm tired too.
- MartinaRiposiamoci un momento qui.Let's rest for a moment here.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ansimare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
