ferire
hurt
The Italian word 'ferire' translates to 'hurt' in English. It is used to express physical or emotional pain inflicted upon someone. For instance, 'He hurt his leg during the game' or 'Her words hurt me deeply'. Note that in Italian, the verb 'ferire' is conjugated differently depending on the subject and tense, similar to English.
Example sentences using: ferire
Non voglio ferire i tuoi sentimenti
I don't want to hurt your feelings
This phrase is typically used when someone wants to express a potentially hurtful opinion in a delicate manner. The verb 'ferire' here is used to describe the emotional pain that could be inflicted.
L'automobile può ferire gravemente i pedoni
The car can seriously injure pedestrians
In this sentence, 'ferire' is used in a literal, physical context. It is stating the potential harm a car could cause to pedestrians if an accident were to occur.
Le sue parole possono ferire come un coltello
His words can hurt like a knife
This sentence is an example of a simile. It visually depicts how someone's words can emotionally hurt as much as a knife can physically, implying the speaker's words can be very harmful and hurtful.