insultare

Insultare is a transitive Italian verb meaning to insult someone or something, by words or conduct that is intended to offend or demean the target’s dignity. It can refer to direct verbal affronts or to actions that demonstrate disrespect. The term is used across formal and informal registers and is common in both spoken language and written communication, including online environments where insults can be exchanged rapidly.

Etymology traces insultare to Latin insultare, from in- (toward) + saltare (to jump). The original sense was closer to “to leap upon” or “to attack,” and over time it developed into the modern meaning of offensive behavior conveyed through words or acts. It shares cognates with many Romance languages and with the English verb insult.

Usage and nuances: insultare requires a direct object, as in insultare qualcuno (to insult someone). The construction can be expanded with phrases such as insultare qualcuno con parole offensive. Synonyms include offendere and oltraggiare. In some contexts, especially legal or formal, distinctions are made with ingiuria, a term referring to a broader offense against a person’s dignity and carrying potential legal implications. In contemporary discourse, insults are also discussed in relation to online behavior, cyberbullying, and hate speech when directed at protected groups.

Examples: Ha insultato il professore durante la lezione. Non è giusto insultare i passanti. Gli insulti erano pieni di odio. Si sono insultati reciprocamente nel dibattito.