puzzare

to stink

verb poot-SAH-reh Rare

Also means

to smell bad

Usage Note

Puzzare takes avere as its auxiliary: ha puzzato tutta la notte (it stank all night). The noun is puzzo (stench, m). In figurative use, puzzare signals suspicion: questa storia puzza means 'this story stinks' (something is fishy). The related adjective puzzolente means smelly or stinking.

Examples

"Il formaggio puzza ma è buonissimo."

Natural Translation

The cheese stinks but it is delicious.

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