sorveglianza

surveillance

noun sor-veh-LYAHN-tsah Less Common

Origin: from French surveillance

Also means

supervision

Usage Note

Sorveglianza covers both security monitoring (telecamere di sorveglianza) and the watching over of people, as in sotto sorveglianza ('under watch'). The -gli- is pronounced like the 'lli' in 'million', a sound learners often miss.

Examples

"L'edificio è sotto sorveglianza."

Natural Translation

The building is under surveillance.

Literal Translation

The-building is under surveillance.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Ti Amo vs Ti Voglio Bene: I Love You in Italian

Ti amo is romantic love; ti voglio bene is tender affection for family and close friends. Here's exactly who to say each phrase to in Italian.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Tu vs Lei: Formal & Informal "You" in Italian

When in doubt, use Lei. Here's exactly when to use tu vs Lei in Italian — the who-to-use-with map, the verb and possessive shifts, and how to switch politely.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read