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soffocare

to suffocate

verb sof-foh-KAH-reh Rare

Origin: Latin suffocare, from sub (under) + fauces (throat)

Also means

to stifle

Usage Note

Soffocare takes avere as auxiliary and is used both literally (soffocare tra le fiamme) and figuratively (soffocare la rivolta, to stifle a revolt; questo caldo mi soffoca, this heat is suffocating me). The double 'f' is essential — sofocare is a misspelling.

Examples

"Il fumo lo faceva soffocare."

Natural Translation

The smoke was making him suffocate.

Literal Translation

The smoke him made to-suffocate.

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