avvistato
The English phrase 'spotted' can be translated into Italian as avvistato.
Avvistato is most commonly used when you have spotted something from a distance, such as an animal, a ship or a person within a crowd.
Which one should you use?
While visto is the general Italian word for 'seen', avvistato implies a more active or sudden sighting of something that was perhaps far away or hidden. If you are describing a physical pattern of small dots or spots, such as on fabrics, prints or decorative items, use puntinato.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle avvistato must agree in gender and number with the object being spotted. For example, you would use avvisate for a feminine plural object.
Did you know?
- While avvistato is used for sightings, the word macchiato describes something physically spotted with stains. This is the same word used for a 'macchiato' coffee, which literally means 'marked' or 'stained' with milk.
- When talking about 'spots' on skin, such as birthmarks or sunspots, Italians use macchia instead of any derivative of avvistare or puntinato.
- If you spot a mistake in a text, you would not use avvistato. Instead, you use notato or riscontrato, as avvistato is almost exclusively reserved for visual sightings of physical objects.
Examples in context
- La tigre era maculata con delle piccole macchie nere.The tiger was spotted with small black marks.
- La camicia aveva un motivo puntinato bianco e nero.The shirt had a white and black polka dot pattern.
- Ho visto una mucca maculata nel campo.I saw a spotted cow in the field.
- Ho avvistato un orso nel bosco.I spotted a bear in the woods.
- Il marinaio ha avvistato una nave in lontananza.The sailor spotted a ship in the distance.
- Abbiamo finalmente avvistato l'uccello raro.We finally spotted the rare bird.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are birdwatching in a park.
- ChiaraGuarda! Ho avvistato un gufo sull'albero!Look! I spotted an owl on the tree!
- MatteoDavvero? Non l'avevo visto.Really? I hadn't seen it.
- ChiaraÈ proprio difficile da avvistare.It is really difficult to spot.
- MatteoHai un occhio molto attento, Chiara.You have a very sharp eye, Chiara.
