Skip to content

distrazione

distraction

noun dee-strah-TSYOH-neh Rare

Origin: From Latin distractio ('a pulling apart'), from distrahere.

Also means

absent-mindedness

Usage Note

Distrazione covers two related senses: a distrazione can be something that distracts you (a distraction) or the state of being absent-minded (per distrazione = 'through absent-mindedness, by mistake'). The phrase errore per distrazione ('careless mistake') is very common in everyday Italian. Do not confuse with svago ('leisure, recreation'), which is a positive distraction.

Examples

"Ho perso il portafoglio per distrazione."

Natural Translation

I lost my wallet through absent-mindedness.

Explore Italian by topic