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controverso

controversial

adjective kon-TROH-ver-zoh Rare

Usage Note

Controverso describes something that provokes disagreement or debate — a tema controverso (controversial topic). It agrees in gender and number: controversa, controversi, controverse. Less formal alternatives include discusso or dibattuto. Note the 's' between vowels is voiced ('z' sound) in controverso.

Examples

"La riforma è stata molto controversa."

Natural Translation

The reform was very controversial.

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