riscatto

ransom

noun ree-SKAHT-toh Rare

Also means

redemption

Usage Note

Riscatto covers both a criminal ransom (pagare un riscatto = 'to pay a ransom') and the idea of moral or social redemption (il riscatto personale = 'personal redemption'). The verb is riscattare / riscattarsi ('to redeem oneself').

Examples

"I rapitori hanno chiesto un riscatto altissimo."

Natural Translation

The kidnappers demanded an extremely high ransom.

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