Which one should you use?
While distrutto implies total destruction or being smashed into pieces, the word rotto is used for things that are simply broken or no longer functional without necessarily being pulverized.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a past participle used with the auxiliary verb avere, the form distrutto typically remains in the masculine singular unless it is being used as an adjective describing a noun. When used as an adjective, the form changes its ending to match the gender and number of the noun: distrutta for feminine singular, distrutto for masculine singular, distratti for masculine plural and distrutte for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /disˈtrut.to/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word for 'distracted' is distratto, which looks and sounds very similar to distrutto. A single vowel change shifts the meaning from being smashed to simply losing focus.
- In a romantic or emotional context, saying mi hai distrutto doesn't mean someone physically smashed you, but that they have completely heartbroken you.
- The word distrutto shares the same Latin root as the English word 'destroy', but it also relates to the word 'structure', as it literally means to 'un-build' something.
Examples in context
- Ho distrutto le scatole.I smashed the boxes.This sentence is useful for seeing the form distrutto used with the verb to smash.Tatoeba #13422370 by Guybrush88, translation #11866934 by CK
- Yanni ha distrutto la radio.Yanni smashed the radio.Tatoeba #12729948 by Guybrush88, translation #9777641 by Amastan
- Boris ha distrutto il suo computer.Boris smashed his computer.Tatoeba #13377854 by Guybrush88, translation #11793772 by Amastan
- Ho rotto il vetro.I smashed the glass.
- La tempesta ha distrutto il tetto.The storm smashed the roof.
- Hai visto come ho sfasciato l'auto?Did you see how I smashed the car?
- La bottiglia si è sfracellata per terra.The bottle smashed on the ground.
- Metti l'aglio pestato nel sugo.Put the smashed garlic in the sauce.
- La finestra si è spaccata durante la tempesta.The window smashed during the storm.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are standing in the kitchen after a loud crash.
- ChiaraIl vaso è completamente distrutto!The vase is completely smashed!
- AlessandroOh no, è caduto dal tavolo.Oh no, it fell from the table.
- ChiaraAlessandro, guarda quanti pezzi ci sono.Alessandro, look how many pieces there are.
- AlessandroDevo pulire tutto subito.I must clean it all up immediately.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry distrutto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries distrutto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
