Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| fondere | /ˈfon.de.re/ |
| scongelare |
When you want to express the act of gradually causing something frozen, such as ice, snow or earth, to melt or soften by raising the temperature, you use these verbs. The noun disgelo is used specifically in a meteorological context to describe a seasonal thaw or a period of weather warm enough to melt ice and snow. For the general process of gradual melting or softening of something frozen, you may also use the noun scongelamento.
Which one should you use?
While both words relate to melting, scongelare is used specifically when referring to the process of removing frost or ice from something, such as defrosting food or thawing frozen ground.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of scongelare is scongelato, which is used to describe something that has been thawed or defrosted. For example, the term scongelato is used when describing food that has been thawed.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈfon.de.re/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The verb fondere can be used reflexively as fondersi to describe two people or things merging into one single entity through a deep emotional or physical bond.
- In Italian politics and diplomacy, il disgelo is used metaphorically to describe the easing of tensions between two hostile nations, mirroring the English term 'détente'.
- The Italian word for 'to melt' or 'to thaw', fondere, shares an ancient root with the English word 'foundry'.
Examples in context
- Devi scongelare il pollo prima di cucinarlo.You need to thaw the chicken before cooking it.
- Ho dimenticato il pane nel freezer e ora è tutto scongelato.I forgot the bread in the freezer, and now it's all thawed.
- Il ghiaccio si è scongelato.The ice has thawed.
- Devi scongelare la carne prima di cucinarla.You must thaw the meat before cooking it.
- Il sole può fondere la neve.The sun can melt the snow.
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are looking at the snowy garden.
- MatteoGuarda quanta neve c'è ancora!Look how much snow is still there!
- GiuliaSperiamo che il sole riesca a fondere tutto.Let's hope the sun manages to thaw everything.
- MatteoSì, farà presto perché oggi è caldo.Yes, it will be quick because it is warm today.
- GiuliaSpero che fondere la neve non allaghi il prato.I hope thawing the snow doesn't flood the lawn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thaw” translations and entries fondere, scongelare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fondere, scongelare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
