Skip to content

fucilare

to shoot by firing squad

verb foo-chee-LAH-reh Rare
People & Society Military

Origin: From fucile (rifle), from Old Italian focile, 'fire-steel'.

Also means

to execute

Usage Note

Fucilare specifically means to execute someone by shooting — typically by firing squad. It is distinct from the generic sparare (to shoot). Fucilato as a past participle or noun means 'a person shot by firing squad'. The verb takes avere as auxiliary. It appears mainly in historical, military, and legal contexts.

Examples

"I partigiani furono fucilati all'alba."

Natural Translation

The partisans were shot at dawn.

Explore Italian by topic