reduce di guerra
/ˈrɛ.du.t͡ʃe di ˈɡwɛr.ra/word by word
The English phrase "war veteran" is translated into Italian as reduce di guerra.
The term refers to a person who has served in the armed forces during a period of war.
Meaning: person who has served in the armed forces during a war (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈrɛ.du.tʃe di ˈɡwɛr.ra/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word reduce in this context does not mean to diminish or shorten as it does in English. Instead, it comes from the Latin 'redux', meaning 'one who returns', implying a soldier who has come back from the battlefield.
- In modern Italian, reduce is rarely used for veterans of recent conflicts and is most strongly associated with those who returned from the World Wars.
- In many contexts, calling someone a reduce might sound quite old-fashioned or literary, as modern Italian often uses more direct terms like veterano for military service.
Examples in context
- L'onorevole veterano di guerra sarà premiato oggi.The honorable war veteran will be awarded today.
- Mio nonno era un reduce di guerra.My grandfather was a war veteran.
- Quel reduce di guerra vive in questo quartiere.That war veteran lives in this neighborhood.
- Abbiamo incontrato un reduce di guerra molto gentile.We met a very kind war veteran.
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are looking at an old family photo.
- SofiaChi è quest'uomo in uniforme?Who is this man in uniform?
- MatteoÈ mio bisnonno, un reduce di guerra.It is my great-grandfather, a war veteran.
- SofiaSembra una persona molto coraggiosa.He looks like a very brave person.
- MatteoSì, era un uomo davvero forte.Yes, he was a truly strong man.
