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strappare

to tear

verb strahp-PAH-reh Rare
Body & Health Movement

Origin: From a Germanic root related to Old High German straffon (to tighten).

Also means

to snatch

Usage Note

Strappare means to rip or tear something (strappare un foglio — to tear a sheet of paper) but also to snatch or wrest away from someone (strappare la vittoria — to snatch victory). The reflexive strapparsi un muscolo means 'to pull a muscle.' It takes avere as its auxiliary, but strapparsi (reflexive) uses essere.

Examples

"Ha strappato la lettera in mille pezzi."

Natural Translation

He tore the letter into a thousand pieces.

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