raschiare

Raschiare is an Italian verb meaning to scrape or to scratch, typically referring to removing a superficial layer from a surface or gathering material by scraping. It is used in a wide range of contexts, from physical actions such as stripping paint, varnish, or ice from objects to more everyday tasks like scraping citrus zest from a fruit or scraping residue from a container.

Usage and senses

The primary sense is transitive: raschiare something from something else. Common examples include raschiare la vernice dalla porta (to scrape the paint off the door) or raschiare la neve dai frecciamenti. It can also denote the act of scraping for the purpose of gathering material, such as raschiare la scorza di limone for zest. In cooking and crafts, raschiare is used to describe removing a thin layer with a blade or tool.

Relationship to other verbs

Raschiare belongs to the first conjugation of Italian verbs (-are). It is closely related to grattare (to scratch or grate) but conveys a more deliberate removal of a surface layer, often with a tool. The past participle is raschiato, and the verb forms like raschio (present) or raschiando (gerund) follow the regular -are pattern.

Conjugation (overview)

Examples in present indicative: io raschio, tu raschi, lui/lei rasca, noi raschiamo, voi raschate, loro raschano. Past tense and compound tenses use avere as the auxiliary: ho raschiato, hai raschiato, ha raschiato, etc.

See also

Grattare; Grattugia (related actions of scraping or grating). Raschiare is a standard term in Italian for tasks involving the removal of surface material, whether in maintenance, cooking, or crafts.