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traditore

traitor

noun trah-dee-TOH-reh Rare
People & Society Values

Origin: From Latin traditor, 'one who hands over'.

Usage Note

Traditore has a regular feminine counterpart: traditrice. The proverb traduttore, traditore ('translator, traitor') — meaning translation always betrays the original — is one of the most famous Italian sayings and a neat way to remember the word. The verb is tradire ('to betray').

Examples

"Lo chiamavano traditore dopo aver cambiato partito."

Natural Translation

They called him a traitor after he changed parties.

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