Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| stanco | /ˈstan.ko/ |
| esausto | /eˈzaws.to/ |
| distrutto | /disˈtrut.to/ |
| affaticato | /af.fa.tiˈka.to/ |
| stracco | /ˈstrak.ko/ |
The adjective is used to describe someone in need of rest or sleep.
Which one should you use?
While stanco is the general term for tired, esausto is used to express a much higher degree of fatigue, equivalent to 'exhausted'. Affaticato implies a specific type of tiredness resulting from physical exertion or labor. For figurative use, such as feeling 'shattered' or 'worn out' by extreme exhaustion, you can use distrutto.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To express being extremely tired or 'beat' in a colloquial way, you can use stracco. The expression Sono sfinito/a is an informal way to say 'I am exhausted or worn out', while Sono distrutto/a is a colloquial way to say 'I am wiped out'. You can also use the informal expression Sono stanco morto/a to mean 'I am dead tired'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the subject. For a female subject, use stanca. When referring to a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural form stanchi. For a group consisting only of women, use the feminine plural form stanche.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈstan.ko/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
Did you know?
- The word stracco is often used in colloquial settings to describe a feeling of being 'beat', often implying a limp or lacking tension, like a piece of old fabric.
- The word stanco is actually a shortened version of the past participle stancato, a linguistic quirk inherited from the Tuscan dialect.
Examples in context
- Lei non è stanco?Aren't you tired?This is useful for asking a negative question about being stanco.Tatoeba #2688265 by Guybrush88, translation #495184 by adjusting
- Non è stanco ora?Aren't you tired now?This shows how to ask if someone is stanco at the present moment.Tatoeba #6092224 by Guybrush88, translation #6091972 by CK
- È stanco come me?Are you as tired as I am?This is used to compare levels of being stanco between two people.Tatoeba #6133871 by Guybrush88, translation #3826758 by CK
- Sono stanco dopo una lunga giornata di lavoroI am tired after a long day of work
- Dopo la maratona, sono esaustoAfter the marathon, I am exhausted
- Dopo la festa di ieri notte, sono sfinitoAfter last night's party, I am exhausted
- Dopo l'allenamento di oggi, sono distruttoAfter today's workout, I am wiped out
- Dopo l'esame di matematica, sono stanco mortoAfter the math exam, I am dead tired
- 1094 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are relaxing on the sofa after a long day.
- FrancescoSei stanca, Giulia?Are you tired, Giulia?
- GiuliaSì, sono molto stanca.Yes, I am very tired.
- FrancescoAnche io sono stanco.I am tired too.
- GiuliaAndiamo a dormire allora.Let's go to sleep then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tired” translations and entries stanco, esausto, distrutto, affaticato, stracco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries distrutto, esausto, stanco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
