truffare

to swindle

verb troof-FAH-reh Rare

Also means

to cheat

Usage Note

Truffare takes avere and means to defraud or con someone. The related noun truffa (scam, fraud) is very common in news headlines. The person who commits the act is a truffatore (m) / truffatrice (f). In legal contexts, truffa is a specific criminal offense under the Italian penal code (Codice Penale, art. 640). Colloquially, fregare covers similar ground but is cruder.

Examples

"L'hanno truffata con una finta offerta."

Natural Translation

They swindled her with a fake offer.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

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

C'è vs Ci Sono: There Is/Are in Italian

C'è for one thing, ci sono for many — that's the rule. Master Italian's there is/there are with c'era, ci sarà, è vs c'è, and non c'è nessuno.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Days & Months in Italian: A Beginner's Guide

Days of the week in Italian are lowercase, all masculine except la domenica, and il lunedì means every Monday. Learn the days, months, dates, and seasons.

June 5, 2026 4 min read