Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| inciampare | /in.t͡ʃamˈpa.re/ |
| scivolare | /ʃi.voˈla.re/ |
| imbattersi | /imˈbat.ter.si/ |
| incontrare | /in.konˈtra.re/ |
In Italian, the word used for 'stumble' depends entirely on whether you are physically tripping, slipping or encountering something by chance. You use inciampare for tripping, scivolare for slipping and imbattersi for the figurative sense of stumbling upon something.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun scivolone refers to a big slip or a major blunder. The suffix -one is used here to emphasize the magnitude of the action.
Which one should you use?
Use inciampare specifically for tripping over an object or one's own feet. Use scivolare when the loss of balance is caused by a lack of friction, such as on ice or a wet floor. Use imbattersi when 'stumble' is used figuratively to mean encountering something by chance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both inciampare and scivolare are intransitive verbs and typically take the auxiliary verb essere in compound tenses. Imbattersi is a pronominal verb and requires the preposition in to indicate what was stumbled upon.
How do you pronounce it?
/in.tʃamˈpa.re/ (4 syllables, stress on the 3rd syllable)
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Ho fatto un passo falso e sono caduto.I stumbled and fell.
- Fai attenzione a non inciampare.Be careful not to trip.
- Ho visto un bambino inciampare.I saw a child stumble.
- Posso inciampare se non guardo dove cammino.I might trip if I don't watch where I'm walking.
Example conversation
Sofia and Francesco are walking home on a bumpy sidewalk.
- SofiaGuarda dove cammini, Francesco!Look where you are walking, Francesco!
- FrancescoHai ragione, sto per inciampare.You're right, I'm about to trip.
- SofiaQuesto marciapiede è davvero pessimo.This sidewalk is really terrible.
- FrancescoSì, dobbiamo fare molta attenzione.Yes, we have to be very careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stumble” translations and entries inciampare, scivolare, imbattersi, incontrare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries imbattersi, inciampare, incontrare, scivolare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
