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C1 noun 3 Min. Lesezeit

gravoso

Gravoso is used to describe something that is heavy, burdensome, or difficult, whether literally or figuratively.

Jetzt üben

gravoso in 30 Sekunden

Heavy or burdensome
Difficult to bear
Onerous task or situation

§ What "Gravoso" Means and When to Use It

The Italian word “gravoso” is an adjective that you’ll find used to describe situations, tasks, or burdens that are heavy, difficult to manage, or burdensome. It’s not just about physical weight, but more often about the metaphorical weight of something. Think of it as meaning “onerous” or “arduous” in English. If something is “gravoso,” it’s placing a significant demand or strain on someone or something.

DEFINITION: Heavy, burdensome, or difficult to bear.

You’ll typically encounter “gravoso” in contexts where there’s a sense of obligation, responsibility, or a challenging circumstance. It’s a formal word, so you’ll hear it in news, legal discussions, or when people are talking about serious matters.

Let’s break down some common ways it’s used:

For tasks or duties: If a job requires a lot of effort, time, or resources, it can be described as “gravoso.” It implies that the task isn't just hard, but it feels like a heavy load.
For financial burdens: High taxes, a large debt, or expensive commitments can all be “gravoso.” Here, it means financially straining or oppressive.
For legal or administrative procedures: Bureaucratic processes that are complex, time-consuming, or require extensive documentation are often called “gravoso.”
For responsibilities or commitments: Having many responsibilities, especially if they are demanding or stressful, can be described as “gravoso.” It emphasizes the weight of these commitments.
For situations that are emotionally draining: While less common than for tasks or finances, a situation that causes significant emotional stress or strain could also be referred to as “gravoso.”

Think about the English word “gravity.” While “gravoso” doesn’t directly translate to “gravity,” it shares that sense of weight and seriousness. When something is “gravoso,” it has a certain “gravity” to it, meaning it’s important and demanding.

Il lavoro è diventato molto gravoso con tutte queste nuove responsabilità.

Here, “gravoso” means the job has become burdensome or demanding due to the added responsibilities. It’s not just “hard,” but feels like a heavy load.

Le tasse sono diventate troppo gravose per molte famiglie.

In this case, “gravose” (feminine plural) indicates that the taxes are financially burdensome or oppressive for families.

When you hear or read “gravoso,” understand that it’s pointing to a significant difficulty or a heavy load, whether it’s in terms of effort, finances, or responsibility. It’s a powerful word to describe challenging situations and is an excellent addition to your C1 vocabulary.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

gravosità heaviness, burdensomeness, onerousness

gravame burden, encumbrance, charge (legal)

Verben

gravare to weigh down, to burden, to encumber

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Workload

Un carico di lavoro gravoso. (A heavy workload.)
Le responsabilità sono diventate troppo gravose. (The responsibilities have become too burdensome.)
Questo progetto è gravoso. (This project is difficult.)

Taxes/Financial Burden

Le tasse sono gravose per i cittadini. (Taxes are burdensome for citizens.)
Un debito gravoso. (A heavy debt.)
La situazione finanziaria è gravosa. (The financial situation is difficult.)

Physical Effort

Un lavoro manuale gravoso. (A heavy manual labor.)
Questo esercizio è gravoso per le ginocchia. (This exercise is hard on the knees.)
Il trasporto del mobile è stato gravoso. (Transporting the furniture was difficult.)

Emotional/Mental Strain

Una decisione gravosa. (A difficult decision.)
Il lutto è un peso gravoso. (Grief is a heavy burden.)
Affrontare la verità è stato gravoso. (Facing the truth was difficult.)

Legal/Bureaucratic Procedures

Una procedura burocratica gravosa. (A burdensome bureaucratic procedure.)
Le conseguenze legali possono essere gravose. (The legal consequences can be heavy.)
Il processo è stato lungo e gravoso. (The process was long and difficult.)

Gesprächseinstiege

"C'è qualcosa di gravoso nella tua vita in questo momento?"

"Qual è stata la situazione più gravosa che hai dovuto affrontare?"

"Pensi che le tasse in Italia siano gravose?"

"Come gestisci i compiti gravosi al lavoro?"

"Hai mai avuto un'esperienza di viaggio particolarmente gravosa?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Descrivi una situazione in cui ti sei sentito 'gravoso'.

Rifletti su come affronti le sfide 'gravose' nella tua vita.

Scrivi di un momento in cui hai aiutato qualcuno a superare un peso 'gravoso'.

Immagina di dover prendere una decisione 'gravosa'. Quali fattori considereresti?

Pensa a qualcosa che ti sembra 'gravoso' adesso e come potresti alleggerirlo.