Affondo

Affondo is an Italian noun derived from the verb affondare (to sink) and can denote a deep plunge or a decisive attack. In general usage it refers to a thorough, forceful movement or action, and can also describe a tactical or strategic gesture. The term may appear in various contexts with related but distinct meanings.

In sports and physical culture, affondo commonly designates a lunge. In fencing and martial arts, an affondo is the forward thrust or lunge used to strike the opponent. In fitness contexts, the plural affondi refers to lunges—the lower-body exercise performed by stepping forward (or backward or laterally) with knee flexion to lower the body.

Historically and in military writing, affondo can describe an aggressive offensive operation or a bold attack intended to break through defenses. In naval or maritime language it may refer to an attack aimed at damaging or sinking a vessel; in broader historical accounts it conveys a decisive, penetrating maneuver in battle. In literature, affondo is sometimes used metaphorically to denote an in-depth or penetrating intervention or analysis.

Pronunciation is af-FON-do. The term appears in Italian dictionaries as both a noun and, in certain phrases, within fixed expressions such as affondo finale, signaling a decisive or culminating action.