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lamentare

to complain; to lament

verb lah-men-TAH-reh Less Common

Origin: Latin lamentari (to wail)

Usage Note

Lamentare used transitively means to mourn or deplore something (lamentare una perdita — to mourn a loss). The reflexive lamentarsi (di/con) is far more common in everyday speech and means 'to complain': Mi lamento sempre del traffico. Non-reflexive lamentare sounds more literary or formal. It takes avere as auxiliary.

Examples

"Si lamenta sempre del freddo."

Natural Translation

He always complains about the cold.

Literal Translation

He-himself complains always of-the cold.

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