Skip to content

ladrone

big thief; brigand

noun lah-DROH-neh Rare

Origin: Latin latro (bandit, mercenary) + augmentative -one

Usage Note

Ladrone is the augmentative of ladro (thief), denoting a serious or habitual criminal rather than a petty pickpocket. In the Gospels i ladroni are the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus — learners of religious Italian will encounter this. Today it is used hyperbolically in political discourse: ladrone hurled at a corrupt politician. Plural: ladroni.

Examples

"Quel politico è un ladrone!"

Natural Translation

That politician is a crook!

Explore Italian by topic