§ What does 'colpevole' mean?
- Italian Word
- colpevole (adjective)
- CEFR Level
- B2
- Definition
- Guilty, culpable, or at fault.
The Italian word colpevole is an adjective that translates to 'guilty,' 'culpable,' or 'at fault' in English. It's a key term you'll encounter in legal contexts, but also in everyday conversations when someone acknowledges responsibility for an error or a negative situation. It can describe a person, a group, or even an action.
§ How to use 'colpevole' in a sentence
Let's look at some examples to help you understand how to use colpevole.
Il giudice ha dichiarato l'imputato colpevole.
This means: The judge declared the defendant guilty.
Mi sento colpevole per l'errore.
This means: I feel guilty for the mistake.
La decisione colpevole ha portato a conseguenze negative.
This means: The culpable decision led to negative consequences.
§ 'Colpevole' vs. similar words
While colpevole directly translates to 'guilty' or 'culpable,' it's helpful to understand its nuances compared to other words that might seem similar but are used in different contexts.
- Culpabile (rare, formal): You might encounter this word, but it's much less common than colpevole and is generally considered more formal or even archaic. Stick with colpevole for everyday use and most formal contexts.
- Responsabile: This word means 'responsible.' While a person who is colpevole is also responsabile for their actions, responsabile doesn't carry the same legal or moral weight of having committed a wrong. You can be responsible for organizing an event, for example, without being guilty of anything.
Sono responsabile del progetto, ma non mi sento colpevole per il suo fallimento.
This means: I am responsible for the project, but I don't feel guilty for its failure.
- Innocente: This is the direct opposite of colpevole, meaning 'innocent.'
Il verdetto finale è stato: non colpevole, ma innocente.
This means: The final verdict was: not guilty, but innocent.
When deciding whether to use colpevole or another word, ask yourself if the situation involves a moral failing, a legal transgression, or an acknowledged fault. If the answer is yes, colpevole is likely the word you need.
Understanding these distinctions will help you use colpevole accurately and sound more natural in your Italian conversations.
Gramática que debes saber
Like many Italian adjectives, 'colpevole' agrees in number with the noun it modifies. However, it's invariable in gender.
Il ragazzo colpevole (The guilty boy) / La ragazza colpevole (The guilty girl) / I ragazzi colpevoli (The guilty boys) / Le ragazze colpevoli (The guilty girls)
'Colpevole' often precedes the noun for emphasis, but can also follow it.
Un colpevole silenzio (A guilty silence) / L'uomo colpevole (The guilty man)
It can be used as a noun, meaning 'the guilty one' or 'the culprit', in which case it takes articles and agrees in number.
Il colpevole è fuggito (The culprit fled) / I colpevoli sono stati arrestati (The culprits have been arrested)
When used with the verb 'essere' (to be), it indicates a state of being guilty.
Lui è colpevole del furto (He is guilty of the theft) / Noi siamo colpevoli (We are guilty)
It can be followed by the preposition 'di' (of) to specify what someone is guilty of.
È colpevole di omicidio (He is guilty of murder) / Sono colpevole di aver mentito (I am guilty of having lied)
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Imagine a 'COLd PELican' feeling guilty after stealing a fish. COL-PE-vole.
Asociación visual
Picture a courtroom scene. The judge points to a person and declares, 'Colpevole!' This person is wearing a giant, heavy 'G' for Guilty around their neck. The 'G' is so heavy, they're slumping over.
Word Web
Desafío
Think about a time you felt 'colpevole' (guilty). Write a short sentence in Italian about it, even if it's simple. For example: 'Mi sentivo colpevole quando ho rotto il vaso.' (I felt guilty when I broke the vase.)
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasThe Italian word for 'guilty' is colpevole.
Yes, colpevole can be used for both people and things. For example, 'il colpevole' (the guilty one) or 'una decisione colpevole' (a faulty decision).
No, colpevole is an adjective that does not change for gender. It can be singular (colpevole) or plural (colpevoli). For example, 'lui è colpevole' (he is guilty) and 'loro sono colpevoli' (they are guilty).
Here's an example: 'La giuria ha dichiarato l'imputato colpevole.' (The jury declared the defendant guilty.)
Yes, colpevole implies a serious degree of fault or guilt, often in a legal or moral context.
While both can mean 'responsible', colpevole specifically means 'guilty' or 'at fault' for something negative, often with a moral or legal judgment. Responsabile is more general and can simply mean 'in charge' or 'accountable' for something, good or bad.
A common phrase is 'dichiararsi colpevole' (to plead guilty).
It's pronounced kol-PEH-vo-leh. The stress is on the second syllable.
You could say 'un errore colpevole' (a culpable error), implying it's an error due to someone's fault or negligence.
The opposite of colpevole is 'innocente' (innocent).
Ponte a prueba 24 preguntas
Il giudice ha dichiarato l'imputato non ___.
The judge declared the defendant not guilty. 'Colpevole' means guilty.
Si sentiva ___ per l'errore commesso.
He felt guilty for the mistake he made. 'Colpevole' means guilty.
Chi è il ___ di questo disordine?
Who is at fault for this mess? 'Colpevole' means culpable or at fault.
Non ho prove, ma credo che sia lui il ___.
I have no proof, but I believe he is the guilty one. 'Colpevole' means guilty.
Il bambino si sentiva ___ dopo aver rotto il vaso.
The child felt guilty after breaking the vase. 'Colpevole' means guilty.
Non è facile ammettere di essere ___.
It's not easy to admit to being guilty. 'Colpevoli' is the plural form of 'colpevole'.
The judge declared the man...
She felt guilty about...
He is not guilty of...
Read this aloud:
Sono colpevole?
Focus: colpevole
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Tu non sei colpevole.
Focus: non sei colpevole
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Si sente colpevole.
Focus: si sente
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The judge declared the man guilty. This sentence uses the verb 'dichiarare' (to declare) with 'colpevole'.
She felt guilty for the mistake. This sentence shows 'sentirsi colpevole' (to feel guilty).
You are not guilty of anything. This uses the structure 'essere colpevole di' (to be guilty of).
This sentence means 'It can't really be him who is guilty.' The order reflects a common Italian sentence structure for expressing doubt or disbelief.
This sentence translates to 'The accused pleaded guilty to all charges.' 'Dichiararsi colpevole' is a common legal expression.
This sentence means 'Despite much evidence, he still declared himself innocent.' The sentence structure emphasizes the contrast between the evidence and the declaration.
/ 24 correct
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