annegare

to drown

verb ahn-neh-GAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin enecare (to kill), possibly blended with aqua (water) in Vulgar Latin.

Also means

to flood

Usage Note

Annegare takes essere when intransitive (the subject drowns): è annegato (he drowned). When transitive (someone drowns someone else), it takes avere: lo ha annegato. Figuratively, annegare nei debiti means 'to be drowning in debt'. Do not confuse with affogare, which can mean both drowning and poaching (eggs).

Examples

"Il bambino stava per annegare nel lago."

Natural Translation

The child was about to drown in the lake.

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