sfregio

Sfregio is an Italian term used as a noun to denote a disfigurement or an affront. In its literal sense, it refers to a physical injury that disfigures the face or body, often leaving a lasting scar. Figuratively, sfregio describes a grave insult or public humiliation that damages a person’s dignity. The word derives from the verb sfregiare, meaning to mutilate or deface, especially by injuring the face or another part of the body.

Historically, acts described as sfregio have appeared in accounts of punishment, warfare, and crime, where disfiguring injuries carried social stigma or marked a person as dishonored. In contemporary usage, the term is employed in journalism, literature, and everyday language to convey both literal injuries and symbolic injuries to reputation or honor.

In culture and art, sfregio is used as a motif to explore trauma, violence, and identity. The physical scar can symbolize a character's past, while the concept of an affront can reflect themes of power, memory, and dignity. Phrases such as "uno sfregio" or "fare uno sfregio" convey both the act of injuring and the act of insulting or shaming.

See also: disfigurement, scar, insult, affront.