spazzare
/spatˈt͡sa.re/
The English word sweeping is translated into Italian as spazzare.
The word spazzare is used to describe the quality of being wide, broad or affecting many things. You may encounter related cleaning terms such as mocio for mop and paletta for dustpan.
Meaning: wide, broad, affecting many things (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /spatˈtsa.re/. The stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The verb spazzare shares a surprising ancestor with the Latin word for 'to walk'. It originally meant to roam or wander through a space, rather than the act of cleaning.
- While 'sweeping' in English can be a gentle movement, the Italian equivalent for a sweeping victory is travolgente, which literally evokes the image of being knocked over by a flood or wave.
- In Italian, the concept of a 'sweeping' victory or change is often expressed using travolgente, which evokes the image of being overwhelmed by a flood or wave.
Examples in context
- È necessario spazzare il pavimento ogni giorno.It is necessary to sweep the floor every day.
- Dopo la festa, ho pulito con la scopa tutta la sabbia sul pavimento.After the party, I swept all the sand from the floor with a broom.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are discussing new government policies.
- LorenzoHai letto le nuove leggi?Did you read the new laws?
- SofiaSì, sembrano spazzare via il vecchio sistema.Yes, they seem to sweep away the old system.
- LorenzoCredi che sia un bene?Do you think it is a good thing?
- SofiaSì, serve un cambiamento totale.Yes, a total change is needed.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry spazzare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries spazzare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
