uccidere
/utˈt͡ʃi.de.re/
The English phrase 'slay' can be translated into Italian as uccidere. Wiktionary also lists assassinare.
Meaning: to kill, murder (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| uccidere | /utˈt͡ʃi.de.re/ |
| assassinare | /as.sas.siˈna.re/ |
The verb uccidere is the general, most common way to say 'to kill' or 'to slay' in any context.
Which one should you use?
While uccidere is the general term for killing, assassinare is used specifically for a premeditated, targeted killing, often involving a person of importance.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of uccidere is ucciso, which is used to describe someone who has been slain.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /utˈtʃi.de.re/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- To say someone is 'killing it' in a performance, Italians use the expression spaccare, which literally means 'to break' or 'to smash'.
- The word assassinare shares the same root as the English word 'assassin', which originates from the Arabic 'hashshashin'.
- The word uccidere comes from the Latin occīdō, which combines the prefix meaning 'down' with the verb for 'to strike'.
Examples in context
- Il suo nuovo singolo spaccava davvero!His/her new single was really slaying!
- L'assassino voleva uccidere il testimone.The killer wanted to kill the witness.
- Non voglio uccidere l'animale.I do not want to kill the animal.
- È difficile uccidere un insetto con un libro.It is difficult to kill an insect with a book.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Sofia are discussing a movie plot.
- AlessandroIl protagonista vuole uccidere il cattivo.The protagonist wants to kill the villain.
- SofiaSì, ma non è un modo giusto.Yes, but it is not a right way.
- AlessandroÈ l'unico modo per fermarlo.It is the only way to stop him.
- SofiaSpero che non lo faccia davvero.I hope he doesn't actually do it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slay” translations and entries uccidere, assassinare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries assassinare, uccidere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
