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B1 verb Neutral 3 Min. Lesezeit

cancellare

/kan.t͡ʃelˈla.re/
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Overview

The Italian verb 'cancellare' is a versatile and commonly used word that translates primarily to 'to cancel,' 'to erase,' 'to delete,' or 'to remove.' Its meaning often depends on the context in which it's used, but it generally implies the act of making something cease to exist or be visible.

Etymology and Basic Meaning:

'Cancellare' originates from the Latin 'cancellare,' meaning 'to make like a lattice' or 'to cross out with lines.' This etymology provides insight into its core meaning of striking through or obliterating. In modern Italian, it retains this sense of nullifying or eliminating.

Common Usages and Nuances:

  1. 1To Cancel (an appointment, reservation, event): This is perhaps one of the most frequent uses. When you 'cancellare' an appointment ('un appuntamento'), a reservation ('una prenotazione'), or a flight ('un volo'), you are formally revoking it or making it no longer valid.
  • Example: 'Devo cancellare la mia prenotazione al ristorante.' (I need to cancel my restaurant reservation.)
  1. 1To Erase/Delete (text, data, memories): 'Cancellare' is used for removing written text, digital data, or even abstract concepts like memories. This can involve physically erasing something with an eraser or digitally deleting files.
  • Example: 'Ho cancellato per sbaglio il file dal computer.' (I accidentally deleted the file from the computer.)
  • Example: 'Cerco di cancellare quel brutto ricordo.' (I'm trying to erase that bad memory.)
  1. 1To Remove/Obliterate (a mark, a stain, a debt): When something needs to be physically removed or effectively nullified, 'cancellare' can be used. This applies to stains ('una macchia'), marks, or even a debt ('un debito') from a record.
  • Example: 'Riesci a cancellare questa macchia dalla camicia?' (Can you remove this stain from the shirt?)
  • Example: 'La banca ha cancellato il mio debito.' (The bank canceled/wrote off my debt.)
  1. 1To Cross Out/Strike Through: This usage directly reflects the Latin origin. If you cross out a word or a line in a document, you 'cancellare' it.
  • Example: 'Ha cancellato il suo nome dalla lista.' (He crossed his name off the list.)

Conjugation (Regular -are verb):

'Cancellare' is a regular verb ending in '-are'. Here's its present tense indicative conjugation:

  • Io cancello (I cancel/erase)
  • Tu cancelli (You cancel/erase - singular informal)
  • Lui/Lei/Lei cancella (He/She/It cancels/erases - singular formal)
  • Noi cancelliamo (We cancel/erase)
  • Voi cancellate (You cancel/erase - plural informal)
  • Loro cancellano (They cancel/erase)

Related Nouns and Adjectives:

  • Cancellazione: (noun, feminine) cancellation, deletion, erasure.
  • Example: 'La cancellazione del volo ha causato molti disagi.' (The flight cancellation caused a lot of inconvenience.)
  • Cancellabile: (adjective) erasable, cancellable.

In summary, 'cancellare' is a highly versatile verb essential for expressing the act of making something disappear, cease, or be removed, whether it's an event, information, a physical mark, or even a memory. Its precise meaning is always clarified by the context of the sentence.

Beispiele

1

Ho bisogno di cancellare questo appuntamento.

When cancelling an event or appointment.

I need to cancel this appointment.

2

Cancellare la scrittura dalla lavagna.

Referring to erasing something written.

To erase the writing from the blackboard.

3

Non riesco a cancellare quel ricordo dalla mia mente.

Figurative use, meaning to forget or remove from one's thoughts.

I can't erase that memory from my mind.

4

Il programma ha cancellato tutti i miei file.

Referring to deleting digital files.

The program deleted all my files.

5

Dobbiamo cancellare il nostro debito.

Meaning to nullify or pay off a debt.

We need to clear our debt.

Häufige Kollokationen

cancellare un appuntamento
cancellare i debiti
cancellare una macchia
cancellare dalla mente

Wird oft verwechselt mit

cancellare vs. cancellarsi
Reflexive form, meaning 'to cancel oneself' or 'to unsubscribe'.

Grammatikmuster

cancellare [qualcosa] cancellare [qualcosa] da [un luogo] cancellare [qualcuno] da [una lista]

So verwendest du es

Nutzungshinweise

When using 'cancellare,' it's crucial to consider the direct object and the context to convey the precise meaning. While often used for literal acts like 'cancellare una scritta' (to erase a writing) or 'cancellare un appuntamento' (to cancel an appointment), its application extends to more abstract concepts. For example, 'cancellare il passato' means to overcome or put the past behind you, rather than literally obliterating it. When referring to official documents or records, 'cancellare' often implies an authoritative removal, such as 'cancellare un nome dalla lista' (to strike a name from the list). It can also be used reflexively, as in 'cancellarsi dalla mente' (to put out of one's mind), indicating an attempt to forget something. The preposition 'da' is frequently used with 'cancellare' to indicate the source from which something is removed, e.g., 'cancellare un virus dal computer' (to remove a virus from the computer). Be mindful of regional variations or idiomatic expressions where 'cancellare' might take on slightly different connotations, though its core meaning remains consistent across standard Italian.

Häufige Fehler

One common mistake is confusing 'cancellare' with words that mean to cancel an appointment or an event, such as 'annullare'. While 'cancellare' can sometimes be used in the context of deleting an entry from a list (which might be seen as 'cancelling' it), its primary meaning is more about physical removal, eradication, or obliteration. For instance, you 'cancellare' a word from a document, or 'cancellare' a stain. You would typically 'annullare' a meeting. Another mistake is mispronouncing the double 'l'. It's pronounced like the 'll' in 'million', not like a single 'l'.

Tipps

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Word Specificity

'Cancellare' is a versatile verb in Italian, commonly meaning 'to cancel,' 'to erase,' 'to delete,' or 'to remove.' Its usage largely depends on the context.
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Common Pitfalls

Be careful not to confuse 'cancellare' with 'eliminare' (to eliminate). While both can mean 'to remove,' 'cancellare' often implies removing something written, recorded, or planned, whereas 'eliminare' has a broader sense of getting rid of something entirely.
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Usage Examples

* **Cancellare un appuntamento:** To cancel an appointment. * **Cancellare un messaggio:** To delete a message. * **Cancellare un debito:** To clear/cancel a debt. * **Cancellare dalla memoria:** To erase from memory. * **Cancellare con la gomma:** To erase with an eraser.

Wortherkunft

From Late Latin 'cancellare', meaning 'to make like a lattice, to cross out', from Latin 'cancelli' (plural of 'cancellus'), meaning 'latticework, grating, a screen'. The sense evolved from drawing lines across writing to obliterate it. Related to 'chancel' and 'cancel'.

Kultureller Kontext

The verb 'cancellare' in Italian holds a broad semantic field, extending beyond its literal translation of 'to cancel' or 'to erase.' In a cultural context, it can reflect acts of deliberate removal or forgetting, which can be both positive and negative. For instance, 'cancellare un debito' (to cancel a debt) implies a positive resolution, bringing relief. Conversely, 'cancellare la memoria' (to erase memory) hints at a more profound, sometimes troubling, act of obliteration, potentially related to historical revisionism or personal trauma. The act of canceling can also be highly bureaucratic, deeply embedded in Italian life, from appointments to legal documents, reflecting a societal emphasis on formal processes. Furthermore, in art and literature, 'cancellare' might refer to the act of artistic erasure, where previous works or sketches are covered or altered, a process that can be seen as an evolution or a destruction. The word thus resonates with themes of memory, forgiveness, accountability, and transformation within Italian culture.

Merkhilfe

Imagine a 'can-sell-air' machine that obliterates air. This absurd image helps you remember that 'cancellare' means to remove or obliterate.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

4 Fragen
'Cancellare' is an Italian verb that primarily means 'to cancel,' 'to erase,' 'to delete,' or 'to remove.' It can be used in various contexts, such as canceling an appointment, erasing a mark, deleting a file, or removing an item from a list. The meaning can be slightly nuanced depending on the context in which it's used, but generally refers to the act of nullifying, eliminating, or obliterating something. It's a common and versatile verb in the Italian language.
In the present tense, 'cancellare' is conjugated as follows: 'io cancello' (I cancel), 'tu cancelli' (you cancel - informal), 'lui/lei cancella' (he/she cancels), 'noi cancelliamo' (we cancel), 'voi cancellate' (you cancel - plural/formal), and 'loro cancellano' (they cancel). It follows the regular conjugation pattern for verbs ending in '-are'. Understanding these conjugations is fundamental for using the verb correctly in everyday conversation.
Yes, 'cancellare' can be used reflexively as 'cancellarsi,' which often means 'to cancel oneself out,' 'to disappear,' or 'to be erased.' For example, 'Il suo nome si è cancellato dalla lista' means 'His name was erased from the list.' The reflexive form emphasizes that the action is performed on the subject itself, or that the subject undergoes the action of being canceled or removed. This adds another layer of meaning to the verb.
Some common phrases using 'cancellare' include: 'cancellare un appuntamento' (to cancel an appointment), 'cancellare un errore' (to erase a mistake), 'cancellare dalla memoria' (to erase from memory), 'cancellare un debito' (to cancel a debt), and 'cancellare un file' (to delete a file). These examples demonstrate the wide range of applications for this verb, from practical everyday tasks to more abstract concepts involving memory or obligations. Mastering these phrases will enhance your fluency in Italian.

Teste dich selbst

fill blank

Devi ______ questo errore dal documento.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
fill blank

Non dimenticare di ______ l'appuntamento dal calendario.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
fill blank

Ho dovuto ______ il file perché era corrotto.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Ergebnis: /3

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