selvaggio
/selˈvad.d͡ʒo/
The Italian phrase for 'wild man' is selvaggio.
selvaggio is used to describe a person who is uncivilized or lives in a natural state away from society. It is also the standard Italian word for 'savage' or 'uncivilized' when used as an adjective.
Which one should you use?
The phrase uomo selvatico can also be used to describe a man who is wild or untamed, often with a connotation of living in the woods or being uncultivated.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective selvaggio must agree in gender with the person it describes, becoming selvaggia for a woman. The adjective selvaggio becomes selvaggi when describing a group of men or a mixed group. The adjective selvaggio becomes selvagge when describing a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /selˈvad.dʒo/.
Did you know?
- The word selvaggio is a linguistic double in Italian. While it comes from the same root as selvatico, they entered the language through different paths, one being a direct inheritance from Latin and the other a later loan from Old Occitan.
- While selvaggio describes a 'wild man', the phrase fare il selvaggio is often used colloquially to describe someone behaving wildly or losing their temper in a social setting.
- The root of selvaggio comes from the Latin word for 'woods', silva. This is the same root that gives English the word 'silvan', used to describe things associated with the forest.
Examples in context
- È un uomo selvaggio.He's a wild man.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the use of selvaggio to describe a man.Tatoeba #8492723 by Guybrush88, translation #8480043 by CH
- Tom è un uomo selvaggio.Tom is a wild man.Tatoeba #5980926 by Guybrush88, translation #5757914 by CM
- Nell'opera letteraria, il personaggio principale è un uomo selvaggio cresciuto nella giungla.In the literary work, the main character is a wild man raised in the jungle.
- Marco è proprio un tipo sfrenato, sempre pronto per una nuova avventura!Marco is such a wild man, always ready for a new adventure!
- Quel selvaggio vive solo nel bosco.That wild man lives alone in the woods.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are looking at an old painting in a museum.
- LorenzoChi è questo personaggio?Who is this character?
- SofiaÈ un uomo selvaggio della foresta.He is a wild man of the forest.
- LorenzoViveva davvero così?Did he really live like that?
- SofiaSì, lontano da ogni città.Yes, far from any city.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry selvaggio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries selvaggio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
