inquinato
The English word "polluted" is translated into Italian as inquinato.
inquinato is used to describe things that have been defiled.
Meaning: defiled (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective inquinato is the past participle of the verb inquinare, which means to pollute or to contaminate.
Which one should you use?
While inquinato refers to environmental contamination (chemical/toxic), the word sporco is used for general dirt or lack of cleanliness. Additionally, the term contaminato is a formal term used to describe pollution caused by contamination.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective inquinato must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, you may use inquinata for feminine singular nouns and inquinati for masculine plural nouns.
Did you know?
- In certain legal contexts, if a piece of evidence is 'polluted' by an error, Italian lawyers might use inquinato to describe the entire judicial process being compromised.
- While English speakers often say 'polluted air', Italians frequently use the term aria viziata to describe air that feels heavy, stale, or 'polluted' by a lack of freshness in a room.
- In Italian political discourse, one might hear about inquinamento semantico, which refers to the 'pollution' of meanings when words are used incorrectly to change public perception.
Examples in context
- Il lago è inquinato.The lake is polluted.This sentence is useful for stating that a lake is inquinato.Tatoeba #5592276 by Guybrush88, translation #2653105 by Hybrid
- Questo fiume non è inquinato.This river is not polluted.This sentence is useful for stating that a river is not inquinato.Tatoeba #379175 by Pharamp, translation #58127 by CK
- A Tom non piace nuotare in questo fiume. Dice che è troppo inquinato.Tom doesn't like swimming in this river. He says it's too polluted.This sentence shows how someone might describe a river as being too inquinato.Tatoeba #5724903 by Guybrush88, translation #1026021 by CK
- L'aria è inquinataThe air is polluted
- Il fiume è inquinatoThe river is polluted
- I fumi delle fabbriche hanno inquinato l'ambiente circostante.The factory's fumes have polluted the surrounding environment.
- Per colpa dello smog, l'aria in città è molto sporca.Due to smog, the air in the city is very polluted.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are walking by a local river.
- MatteoGuarda che brutta acqua, Martina.Look at that ugly water, Martina.
- MartinaSì, purtroppo il fiume è molto inquinato.Yes, unfortunately the river is very polluted.
- MatteoÈ un vero peccato per l'ambiente.It is a real shame for the environment.
- MartinaSì, Matteo, la situazione è preoccupante.Yes, Matteo, the situation is worrying.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
