annusare
/an.nuˈza.re/
To sniff in Italian is to say annusare. Wiktionary also lists fiutare.
Meaning: to make a short audible inhalation (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| annusare | /an.nuˈza.re/ /an.nuˈsa.re/ |
| fiutare | /fjuˈta.re/ |
The phrase refers to the act of making a short audible inhalation to sense an odor.
Which one should you use?
While annusare is the standard, neutral verb for the act of sniffing or smelling something, fiutare is more commonly used for animals tracking a scent. Additionally, fiutare can be used metaphorically to mean detecting or sensing something, such as a secret or a scam.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /an.nuˈza.re/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- Italian uses fiutare as an idiom for a 'gut feeling' about someone's intentions, mirroring the English expression 'to smell a rat'.
- The word muso can also refer to the 'face' of a person, but in a grumpy or sullen way, as if they are making a face like a brooding animal.
- The standard verb annusare likely evolved from a variation of annasare, a word believed to be influenced by the word muso, meaning 'snout' or 'muzzle'.
Examples in context
- Non annusare il tuo cibo.Don't sniff your food.Tatoeba #13107958 by Guybrush88, translation #11929874 by CK
- Vorrei annusare il profumo prima di acquistarlo.I would like to sniff the perfume before buying it.
- È importante annusare il cibo per verificarne la freschezza.It's important to sniff the food to check its freshness.
- Ho fiutato il profumo delle rose nel giardino.I sniffed the scent of roses in the garden.
- Il cane deve annusare la strada.The dog needs to sniff the street.
- Puoi annusare questo profumo?Can you sniff this perfume?
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are in a flower shop.
- MartinaProva ad annusare questi fiori, Lorenzo.Try to sniff these flowers, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoSì, hanno un profumo incredibile.Yes, they have an incredible scent.
- MartinaSono perfetti per il tuo tavolo.They are perfect for your table.
- LorenzoHai ragione, li prendo subito.You're right, I'll take them right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sniff” translations and entries annusare, fiutare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries annusare, fiutare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
