reinventare
The English phrase reinvent means to invent again something that has already been invented in Italian, expressed by the verb reinventare.
reinventare is used when you are inventing something again that has already been invented.
Meaning: to invent again something that has already been invented (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of the prefix ri- (again) and inventare (to invent).
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person plural present indicative form is reinventiamo. The past participle of reinventare is reinventato.
Did you know?
- While reinventare means 'to invent again', the word inventare is frequently used in Italian to mean 'to make up' or 'to lie', such as inventing a story to avoid trouble.
- The root verb inventare shares a common ancestor with the English word 'inventory', as both come from the Latin 'invenire', meaning 'to come upon' or 'to find'.
- In older Italian literature, the act of 'inventing' was closely tied to 'rhetoric', where inventio referred to the ability to find the most effective arguments for a speech.
Examples in context
- Abbiamo la soluzione. Non c'è bisogno di reinventare la ruota con elementi pericolosi.We have the solution. There's no need to reinvent the wheel with dangerous elements.This sentence shows how to use reinventare in the context of not needing to reinvent the wheel.Tatoeba #13303919 by carlosalberto, translation #13303885 by carlosalberto
- Non serve reinventare un concetto che funziona già.There is no need to reinvent a concept that already works.
- Dobbiamo reinventare il nostro modo di lavorare.We need to reinvent our way of working.
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are discussing a new business project.
- SofiaDobbiamo reinventare questo vecchio processo.We must reinvent this old process.
- MatteoSì, ma non vogliamo reinventare la ruota.Yes, but we don't want to reinvent the wheel.
- SofiaHai ragione, cerchiamo solo un miglioramento.You are right, let's just look for an improvement.
- MatteoEsatto, procediamo con cautela.Exactly, let's proceed with caution.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
