corteggiare
/kor.tedˈd͡ʒa.re/
To woo in Italian is corteggiare. If unsure, use corteggiare. Wiktionary also lists battere i pezzi.
Meaning: to endeavor to gain someone's affection/support (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| corteggiare | /kor.tedˈd͡ʒa.re/ |
| battere i pezzi | /ˌbat.tiˈpɛt.t͡si/ |
The verb refers to the act of endeavoring to gain someone's affection or support.
What does it mean word for word?
corteggiare is derived from corte (court), which implies the act of following or attending to someone in a courtly manner.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
corteggiare is a formal or literary term used to describe the romantic pursuit of someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form (wooing) is corteggiando, and the past participle (wooed) is corteggiato.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kor.tedˈdʒa.re/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The idiom battere i pezzi is a colorful way to describe wooing someone, but it translates literally to 'striking the pieces'.
- The verb corteggiare can also be used in a non-romantic sense to describe the act of trying to win over a political ally or a business partner through flattery.
- In Italian, the word corteggiatore describes a professional or habitual wooer. Depending on the context, it can be a compliment for a charmer or a critique of a flirtatious 'player'.
Examples in context
- Ecco un signore che ho incontrato per caso e che accetta di corteggiare la detestabile Catarina.Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking, Will undertake to woo curst Katharine.This sentence shows an example of the verb corteggiare being used in a literary context.Tatoeba #10300157 by carlosalberto, translation #10300140 by carlosalberto
- Hai uno sguardo magnetico!You have a magnetic gaze!
- Sei davvero elegante.You are truly elegant.
- Sei la mia anima gemella.You are my soulmate.
- Non posso smettere di pensarti.I can't stop thinking about you.
- Sei tutto ciò che ho sempre desiderato.You are everything I've ever wanted.
- Mi fai battere il cuore più forte!You make my heart beat faster!
- Sei irresistibile.You are irresistible.
- Mi hai conquistato.You have conquered me.
- Lui cerca di corteggiare la ragazza da mesi.He has been trying to woo the girl for months.
- Non puoi corteggiare una donna con i regali soltanto.You cannot woo a woman with gifts alone.
Example conversation
Martina and Francesco are talking about Francesco's new crush.
- MartinaHai finalmente deciso di corteggiare Giulia?Have you finally decided to woo Giulia?
- FrancescoSì, ma non so cosa regalarle.Yes, but I don't know what to give her.
- MartinaProva a portarla a cena sabato.Try taking her to dinner on Saturday.
- FrancescoHai ragione, lo farò subito!You're right, I'll do it right away!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woo” translations and entries corteggiare, battere i pezzi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
