At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'sussultare' often, but you can understand it as a 'big scare.' Imagine you are watching a movie and someone says 'BOO!' You jump. That jump is 'sussultare.' You can think of it as 'fare un salto' (to make a jump). Even though it is a difficult word, you can remember it by thinking of the word 'sudden.' It is a sudden movement. In simple sentences, you might see it like this: 'Io sussulto per il rumore' (I jump because of the noise). It is mostly a word you will hear in stories or see in books later on. For now, just remember it means a quick, surprised movement of the body.
At the A2 level, you can start to distinguish between different types of jumping. While 'saltare' is what you do in a gym, 'sussultare' is what your body does when you are surprised. You might use it to describe a reaction to a loud car or a sudden dog bark. You can practice it in the past tense: 'Ho sussultato quando il telefono ha suonato' (I started when the phone rang). It is an intransitive verb, so you don't need an object. It helps you describe feelings more precisely than just saying 'ho avuto paura' (I was afraid). It shows *how* your body reacted to that fear.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable seeing 'sussultare' in intermediate reading texts. You can use it to describe not just people, but also things. For example, 'Il motore della macchina ha sussultato' (The car engine jerked). This adds more detail to your storytelling. You should also recognize the noun form, 'un sussulto' (a startle/jerk). Phrases like 'con un sussulto' (with a startle) are common. You are beginning to move beyond basic verbs and using 'sussultare' makes your Italian sound more natural and descriptive. You also learn that it often takes the auxiliary 'avere' in compound tenses.
At the B2 level, 'sussultare' becomes a tool for expressive writing. You can use it to describe emotional reactions: 'Il suo cuore sussultò di gioia' (His heart leapt with joy). You understand the nuance that it is an involuntary action. You can use it to describe the atmosphere of a scene, like the ground shaking during a small earthquake. You should also be able to use it in various tenses, including the 'passato remoto' in literature (sussultò, sussultarono). It is a key word for describing suspense and physical manifestations of internal states in essays or creative writing assignments.
At the C1 level, you are expected to use 'sussultare' with precision, choosing it over 'sobbalzare' or 'trasalire' based on the specific context. You understand its use in technical or scientific contexts (like 'sussulti muscolari') and its role in earthquake descriptions ('moto sussultorio'). You can use it figuratively to describe social or political 'shocks' that make a system or a government 'sussultare'. Your mastery includes knowing that it is an intransitive verb and using it to create vivid, sensory-rich descriptions in formal reports or literary analyses. You appreciate the rhythmic quality the word adds to a sentence.
At the C2 level, 'sussultare' is part of your poetic and highly formal repertoire. You recognize its use in classical Italian literature and can discuss the stylistic choices of authors who use it to evoke a sense of 'inquietudine' (restlessness) or 'sgomento' (dismay). You can use the word to describe the most subtle movements, like the 'sussultare' of a flame in a draft or the 'sussultare' of a memory in one's mind. You have a deep understanding of its etymology (from Latin 'sub-saltare') and how this history influences its modern meaning of a 'jump from beneath' or an 'underlying tremor'. Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker.

sussultare 30秒了解

  • Sussultare means to jump or jerk involuntarily due to shock or surprise.
  • It is an intransitive verb, usually using 'avere' as its auxiliary.
  • Commonly used for people being startled, engines sputtering, or the ground shaking.
  • It is a high-level (C1) word that adds descriptive depth to Italian speech.

The Italian verb sussultare is a sophisticated, high-level term primarily used to describe an involuntary, sudden, and often brief physical movement. At its core, it translates to 'to jump,' 'to jerk,' 'to startle,' or 'to shudder.' Unlike the common verb saltare (to jump), which usually implies a voluntary action like jumping over a puddle, sussultare describes a reaction that your body performs without your conscious permission. It is the physical manifestation of a sudden internal or external stimulus, such as a loud noise, a sudden realization, or a sharp pang of emotion.

Physical Reaction
When a person is startled by a thunderclap or a car horn, their body might give a quick jerk. This is the quintessential 'sussulto'.

Al rumore improvviso dello sparo, l'intera folla sembrò sussultare all'unisono.

Beyond human movement, sussultare can be applied to inanimate objects or geological phenomena. In a figurative or technical sense, it describes a rhythmic or irregular shaking. An engine that is struggling to start might 'sussultare', or the earth itself might 'sussultare' during a seismic tremor. This versatility makes it an essential word for literature and descriptive journalism. It conveys a sense of instability and sudden energy release that more common verbs like muoversi (to move) or tremare (to shake) simply cannot capture with the same precision.

Emotional Resonance
In a romantic or dramatic context, the heart 'sussulta' (leaps or throbs) when seeing a loved one or receiving shocking news. It represents the bridge between emotion and physical reaction.

Il mio cuore ha fatto un sussulto quando ho letto il suo nome sul display.

In summary, use this word when you want to describe a movement that is sharp, quick, and reactive. It is very common in Italian literature (C1/C2 level) to add texture to a scene, allowing the reader to feel the sudden tension or shock experienced by a character. Whether it is a floorboard creaking in a horror story or a car engine sputtering on a cold morning, sussultare provides the perfect evocative touch.

Grammatically, sussultare is an intransitive verb. This means it does not take a direct object. You cannot 'sussultare' something; you simply 'sussultare' yourself. When used in compound tenses (like the passato prossimo), it typically uses the auxiliary avere (e.g., ho sussultato), although in some literary contexts or when emphasizing the state resulting from the movement, you might occasionally see essere, though avere is the standard modern choice.

Common Prepositions
It is frequently followed by 'per' (for/because of) or 'a' (at). For example, 'sussultare per la paura' (to startle out of fear) or 'sussultare al minimo rumore' (to startle at the slightest noise).

Non sussultare! Sono solo io che rientro in casa.

When describing mechanical objects, the verb often appears in the imperfect tense to describe a continuous state of jerking or sputtering. 'La vecchia macchina sussultava mentre salivamo la china' (The old car was jerking/sputtering as we climbed the slope). This usage highlights the rhythmic, repetitive nature of the movement, distinct from the single 'jump' of a person being scared.

La terra ha ripreso a sussultare violentemente durante la notte.

Metaphorical Use
One can 'sussultare' metaphorically when faced with a shocking fact or a sudden change in fortune. It implies an internal shock that is so strong it almost becomes physical.

L'opinione pubblica ha fatto sussultare il governo con le sue proteste.

Pay attention to the intensity. Sussultare is stronger than muoversi but less intense than crollare (to collapse). It represents that 'middle' state of agitation or sudden awakening. In formal writing, it is a preferred alternative to the more colloquial fare un salto (to make a jump).

You will encounter sussultare most frequently in high-quality Italian literature, news reports concerning natural disasters, and in technical descriptions of machinery. It is a word that signals a certain level of linguistic mastery. If you are reading a novel by Elena Ferrante or Alessandro Manzoni, you will see it used to describe the internal turmoil of characters. In these contexts, the word captures the 'shudder' of the soul or the 'trembling' of a hand holding a secret letter.

Literature and Poetry
Poets use it to describe the rustling of leaves or the sudden movement of the sea. It evokes a sense of life within inanimate nature.

Sentii il pavimento sussultare sotto i miei piedi, presagio di una tempesta imminente.

In television and movies, particularly in the thriller or horror genres, the word is used in scripts to indicate a character's reaction to a suspenseful moment. Dubbing actors in Italy often use this term when describing a scene: 'In quel momento, il protagonista sussulta'. In daily conversation, while people might say 'mi sono spaventato' (I got scared), a more eloquent speaker or someone recounting a vivid story would say 'ho avuto un sussulto' or 'sono sussultato' to emphasize the physical jerk they felt.

Il motore ha dato un ultimo sussulto prima di spegnersi definitivamente.

Scientific Contexts
In biology, it can describe the twitching of a muscle or the sudden movement of a microscopic organism under a lens.

Si possono osservare piccoli sussulti nelle fibre muscolari esposte allo stimolo elettrico.

Overall, hearing this word suggests a transition from mundane events to something noteworthy, sharp, or emotionally charged. It is the language of observation and reaction.

The most common mistake learners make is confusing sussultare with saltare. While both involve a 'jump,' saltare is generally a deliberate action. If you say 'sono sussultato sopra il fosso' (I startled over the ditch), it sounds nonsensical because you cannot startle yourself over an obstacle. You should use saltare for intentional movements and sussultare for involuntary ones.

Auxiliary Verb Error
Many students are unsure whether to use 'essere' or 'avere'. While 'essere' is common for verbs of movement, 'sussultare' usually takes 'avere' because the focus is on the action itself, not a change of location. Say 'ho sussultato', not 'sono sussultato', although the latter is sometimes accepted in very specific literary styles.

Errato: Ho sussultato la corda. (Correct: Ho saltato la corda).

Another mistake is using sussultare when tremare (to tremble) is more appropriate. Tremare is a continuous, often low-intensity vibration (like being cold). Sussultare is a sudden, discrete jerk. If you are shivering from cold, you are 'tremando', not 'sussultando'. You 'sussulti' only if a sudden ice cube is dropped down your back!

Corretto: Il malato ha avuto un sussulto nel sonno. (The patient had a jerk in his sleep).

Register Mismatch
Using 'sussultare' in a very casual text message might seem overly dramatic or formal. In everyday slang, Italians might say 'ho fatto un balzo' or 'mi è preso un colpo'. Save 'sussultare' for storytelling or formal descriptions.

Finally, remember that sussultare is intransitive. You cannot 'sussultare qualcuno'. If you want to say 'I startled him', you must use 'L'ho fatto sussultare' (I made him startle) or 'L'ho spaventato' (I scared him).

Italian is rich with verbs describing movement and emotion. Understanding the nuances between sussultare and its synonyms will elevate your C1/C2 proficiency. The most direct synonym is sobbalzare. In many contexts, they are interchangeable, but sobbalzare often implies a slightly larger physical movement, like literally bouncing off a seat.

Sussultare vs. Sobbalzare
Sussultare: More focused on the internal/sudden twitch. Sobbalzare: More focused on the visible 'jump' or 'bounce' (e.g., in a car on a bumpy road).

La macchina sobbalzava sulle buche, facendomi sussultare per lo spavento.

Another important alternative is trasalire. This verb is almost exclusively used for people and specifically refers to the emotional shock that causes a startle. You wouldn't use trasalire for an engine or an earthquake. It is purely psychological and its physical manifestation.

Fremere vs. Sussultare
Fremere: To quiver or vibrate with intense emotion (anger, passion). It is a sustained vibration. Sussultare: A single, sudden jerk.

Egli fremeva di rabbia, ma quando lei entrò, lo vedemmo sussultare.

Lastly, palpitare is used specifically for the heart or rhythmic throbbing. While the heart can 'sussultare' (a single skip/jump), it 'palpita' (beats/throbs) continuously. Choosing the right word depends on whether the movement is a one-off reaction or a continuous state.

How Formal Is It?

正式

"La struttura ha sussultato in seguito alla detonazione controllata."

中性

"Ho sussultato quando il cane ha abbaiato."

非正式

"Mamma mia, che sussulto mi hai fatto prendere!"

Child friendly

"Il coniglietto sussulta se sente un rumore forte."

俚语

"Ho fatto un sussulto pazzesco!"

趣味小知识

The 'sub-' prefix means 'under', suggesting that a 'sussulto' is a jump that comes from deep within or from beneath the surface.

发音指南

UK /sus.sul.'ta.re/
US /sus.sul.'tɑ.re/
sus-sul-TA-re
押韵词
ascoltare parlare cantare aspettare guardare mangiare andare pensare
常见错误
  • Pronouncing 'ss' as a 'z' sound (it should be 's' as in 'snake').
  • Putting the stress on 'sul' instead of 'ta'.
  • Aspirating the 't' (it should be a crisp, dry 't').

难度评级

阅读 4/5

Common in literature, requiring context to distinguish from 'saltare'.

写作 4/5

Requires knowledge of auxiliary verbs and intransitive patterns.

口语 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward but 'ss' needs care.

听力 4/5

Can be confused with 'sobbalzare' in fast speech.

接下来学什么

前置知识

saltare paura rumore cuore muovere

接下来学习

trasalire sobbalzare fremere vibrare scuotere

高级

epilessia tellurico parossismo galvanico clonico

需要掌握的语法

Intransitive Verbs with 'Avere'

Ho sussultato (not 'Ho sussultato qualcosa').

Causative 'Fare'

Mi hai fatto sussultare.

Gerund for Simultaneous Actions

Sussultando, ho rovesciato l'acqua.

Subjunctive with Impersonal Expressions

È possibile che lui sussulti.

Passato Remoto in Narrative

Egli sussultò bruscamente.

按水平分级的例句

1

Io sussulto se sento un rumore.

I startle if I hear a noise.

Present tense, first person singular.

2

Perché sussulti sempre?

Why do you always startle?

Present tense question.

3

Il bambino sussulta nel sonno.

The baby jerks in his sleep.

Third person singular.

4

Non sussultare, sono io!

Don't startle, it's me!

Negative imperative.

5

Lei sussulta per un gatto.

She startles because of a cat.

Use of 'per' to show cause.

6

Noi sussultiamo insieme.

We startle together.

First person plural.

7

Il cane sussulta se tocchi la porta.

The dog startles if you touch the door.

Conditional structure.

8

Ho sussultato un po'.

I startled a little.

Passato prossimo with 'avere'.

1

Ho sussultato quando hai gridato.

I jumped when you shouted.

Past tense with time clause.

2

La macchina ha sussultato tre volte.

The car jerked three times.

Mechanical subject.

3

Sussultavo ogni volta che vedevo un'ombra.

I used to startle every time I saw a shadow.

Imperfect tense for repeated action.

4

Lui non sussulta mai, è molto calmo.

He never startles, he is very calm.

Negation with 'mai'.

5

Avete sussultato per il tuono?

Did you (plural) startle because of the thunder?

Question in passato prossimo.

6

Sussultare è normale quando si ha paura.

Startling is normal when one is afraid.

Infinitive used as a noun.

7

Mi hai fatto sussultare con quel regalo!

You made me jump with that gift!

Causative construction 'fare + infinitive'.

8

La terra ha sussultato leggermente.

The earth shook slightly.

Geological context.

1

Sussultò improvvisamente sentendo bussare alla porta.

He suddenly startled hearing a knock at the door.

Passato remoto (literary past).

2

Se continui a fare rumore, la nonna sussulterà.

If you keep making noise, grandma will startle.

Future tense.

3

Il cuore mi sussulta ogni volta che ti vedo.

My heart leaps every time I see you.

Metaphorical use for emotion.

4

Abbiamo sussultato tutti sentendo lo scoppio.

We all startled hearing the explosion.

Agreement in the plural.

5

Il terreno sussultava sotto i colpi del martello pneumatico.

The ground was shaking under the blows of the jackhammer.

Imperfect tense for continuous action.

6

Non volevo farti sussultare, scusami.

I didn't want to make you startle, sorry.

Modal verb 'volere' + causative.

7

Sembra che il motore sussulti di nuovo.

It seems that the engine is jerking again.

Subjunctive mood after 'sembra che'.

8

Un sussulto di gioia lo attraversò.

A leap of joy went through him.

Noun form 'sussulto'.

1

La notizia ha fatto sussultare l'intera comunità.

The news made the entire community startle.

Figurative use for social shock.

2

Sussultando, lasciò cadere il bicchiere di cristallo.

Startling, he dropped the crystal glass.

Gerund used to show simultaneous action.

3

Benché fosse coraggioso, sussultò davanti a quella vista.

Although he was brave, he startled at that sight.

Concessive clause with 'benché'.

4

I sussulti del terreno indicavano un terremoto imminente.

The tremors of the ground indicated an imminent earthquake.

Plural noun usage.

5

La fiamma della candela sussultava nella corrente d'aria.

The candle flame was flickering/jerking in the draft.

Descriptive literary use.

6

Sussulteresti anche tu se vedessi quello che ho visto io.

You would startle too if you saw what I saw.

Conditional mood.

7

Il paziente presentava piccoli sussulti alle estremità.

The patient showed small twitches in the extremities.

Medical/technical register.

8

Non c'è motivo di sussultare per così poco.

There is no reason to startle for so little.

Infinitive after preposition 'di'.

1

La borsa ha sussultato alla notizia del crollo dei mercati.

The stock market jerked at the news of the market crash.

Economic figurative use.

2

Un sussulto d'orgoglio lo spinse a rifiutare l'offerta.

A surge/jerk of pride pushed him to refuse the offer.

Abstract noun phrase.

3

Le pareti sussultarono violentemente durante l'esplosione.

The walls shook violently during the explosion.

High-intensity description.

4

Egli sussultò, come se un fantasma l'avesse toccato.

He startled, as if a ghost had touched him.

Simile with 'come se' + subjunctive.

5

Il motore, dopo un ultimo sussulto, tacque per sempre.

The engine, after one last jerk, went silent forever.

Poetic/dramatic personification.

6

Sussultare dinanzi all'ingiustizia è segno di nobiltà d'animo.

To startle in the face of injustice is a sign of nobility of soul.

Philosophical usage.

7

La sua voce ebbe un impercettibile sussulto di commozione.

His voice had an imperceptible tremor of emotion.

Auditory description.

8

Il film è un susseguirsi di sussulti e colpi di scena.

The movie is a succession of starts and plot twists.

Noun used in a sequence.

1

L'universo intero parve sussultare dinanzi a tale rivelazione.

The entire universe seemed to shudder before such a revelation.

Cosmic/hyperbolic register.

2

Un sussulto tellurico ha devastato la regione costiera.

A telluric tremor (earthquake) devastated the coastal region.

Technical geological term 'tellurico'.

3

Sussultai nell'intimo, comprendendo la gravità dell'errore.

I shuddered deep within, understanding the gravity of the error.

Introspective literary use.

4

La prosa di quell'autore fa sussultare per la sua crudezza.

That author's prose makes one startle for its rawness.

Literary criticism context.

5

Ogni sussulto della coscienza veniva soffocato dal cinismo.

Every twitch of conscience was stifled by cynicism.

Highly abstract/metaphorical.

6

Il corpo esanime ebbe un sussulto galvanico.

The lifeless body had a galvanic twitch.

Scientific/historical reference (Galvanism).

7

Sussultano le fronde al passaggio del vento autunnale.

The branches quiver at the passage of the autumn wind.

Poetic inversion (verb before subject).

8

La democrazia sussultò sotto il peso della dittatura nascente.

Democracy shuddered under the weight of the rising dictatorship.

Political/historical metaphor.

常见搭配

sussultare per lo spavento
sussultare al rumore
fare un sussulto
moto sussultorio
sussultare di gioia
sussulto d'orgoglio
sussulti muscolari
sussultare nel sonno
senza un sussulto
sussultare di rabbia

常用短语

Mi hai fatto sussultare!

— You made me jump! Used when someone surprises you.

Accidenti, mi hai fatto sussultare!

Sussultare come una foglia.

— To shake or jerk like a leaf (usually implies fear).

Sussultava come una foglia al vento.

Un sussulto al cuore.

— A heart skip/leap, often due to love or shock.

Ho sentito un sussulto al cuore quando l'ho vista.

Sussultare dalla sedia.

— To jump out of one's seat.

Sussultò dalla sedia per il botto.

Senza manco un sussulto.

— Without even a flinch.

È rimasto lì senza manco un sussulto.

Un sussulto di vitalità.

— A burst of energy or life.

La città ebbe un sussulto di vitalità.

Sussultare per un'idea.

— To be struck suddenly by an idea.

Sussultò per l'idea improvvisa.

Sussultare ad ogni passo.

— To be very nervous or on edge.

In quella casa buia, sussultava ad ogni passo.

L'ultimo sussulto.

— The final twitch or effort (often of something dying).

L'impero ebbe un ultimo sussulto prima di cadere.

Un sussulto nervoso.

— A nervous twitch.

Aveva un piccolo sussulto nervoso all'occhio.

习语与表达

"Avere un sussulto di coscienza"

— To have a sudden pang or awakening of conscience.

Ebbe un sussulto di coscienza e confessò.

Formal
"Far sussultare le vene e i polsi"

— To make someone tremble with fear or awe (Dante reference).

Quella visione faceva sussultare le vene e i polsi.

Literary
"Sussultare nelle tombe"

— To turn in one's grave (similar to 'rivoltarsi').

I nostri avi sussulterebbero nelle tombe a vedere questo.

Figurative
"Dare l'ultimo sussulto"

— To give the final sign of life or operation.

La vecchia radio diede l'ultimo sussulto e poi tacque.

Neutral
"Sussulto di dignità"

— A sudden reclamation of one's dignity.

Un sussulto di dignità lo fece reagire all'offesa.

Formal
"Sussultare come un ossesso"

— To jerk around like someone possessed.

Gridava e sussultava come un ossesso.

Informal
"Sussulto tellurico"

— A fancy way to say earthquake tremor.

La popolazione è stata svegliata da un sussulto tellurico.

Journalistic
"Sussultare di sdegno"

— To recoil or jerk with indignation.

Sussultò di sdegno leggendo quelle menzogne.

Literary
"Un sussulto di brividi"

— A sudden wave of shivers.

Sentì un sussulto di brividi lungo la schiena.

Neutral
"Sussultare alla minima brezza"

— To be extremely sensitive or fragile.

È un uomo fragile, sussulta alla minima brezza.

Poetic

词族

名词

动词

形容词

相关

记住它

记忆技巧

Think of 'SUS-pense' making you 'SULT' (saltare - jump). When the suspense is high, you sussultare.

视觉联想

Imagine a car on a very bumpy road (sussultando) or a cat jumping when a toaster pops up.

Word Web

fear surprise earthquake heart engine sudden jerk startle

挑战

Try to write a three-sentence horror story using 'sussultare' in each sentence with a different meaning.

词源

From the Latin verb 'subsultāre', which is the frequentative form of 'subsilīre'.

原始含义: To jump up from below or to hop.

Romance (Italic)

文化背景

No specific sensitivities, though used frequently in medical/distress contexts.

English speakers often just use 'startle' or 'jump', but 'sussultare' covers the ground of 'jerk' and 'sputter' as well.

Dante Alighieri's Inferno (references to trembling/shaking) Alessandro Manzoni's 'I Promessi Sposi' Modern Italian earthquake safety brochures

在生活中练习

真实语境

Scary Movies

  • Ho sussultato tutto il tempo.
  • Che sussulto!
  • Mi fa sussultare.
  • Sussultare sulla poltrona.

Car Problems

  • Il motore sussulta.
  • Sussulti in accelerazione.
  • La macchina sussultava.
  • Sussultare al semaforo.

Earthquakes

  • Moto sussultorio.
  • La terra ha sussultato.
  • Sussulti del suolo.
  • Sussultare violentemente.

Romance

  • Il cuore sussulta.
  • Un sussulto d'amore.
  • Sussultare al suo tocco.
  • Sussultare vedendola.

Medical

  • Sussulti involontari.
  • Sussulto dei muscoli.
  • Sussultare nel sonno.
  • Sussulto nervoso.

对话开场白

"Ti capita mai di sussultare nel sonno?"

"Qual è l'ultima cosa che ti ha fatto sussultare per lo spavento?"

"Pensi che i film horror che fanno sussultare siano divertenti?"

"Hai mai sentito la terra sussultare durante un piccolo terremoto?"

"Cosa fai quando senti il motore della tua macchina sussultare?"

日记主题

Descrivi un momento in cui il tuo cuore ha avuto un sussulto di gioia improvvisa.

Scrivi di una volta in cui un rumore nel cuore della notte ti ha fatto sussultare.

Rifletti su come la società italiana sussulta dinanzi ai grandi cambiamenti politici.

Inventa una scena in cui un detective sussulta scoprendo un indizio cruciale.

Descrivi le sensazioni fisiche di un sussulto: cosa succede ai tuoi muscoli e al tuo respiro?

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