Skip to content

azzardo

risk

noun ahdz-DZAHR-doh Rare
Mind & Emotions Attitudes

Origin: Arabic az-zahr, 'the die (in dice)'

Also means

gamble

Usage Note

Azzardo originally meant a game of chance and still carries the idea of reckless risk-taking; the phrase gioco d'azzardo means 'gambling'. The verb azzardare means to hazard or venture a guess (azzardare un'ipotesi). It is a false friend for English speakers who might think of 'hazard' as merely 'danger' — in Italian it emphasises the voluntary, reckless element.

Examples

"Aprire quel locale è stato un vero azzardo."

Natural Translation

Opening that venue was a real gamble.

Explore Italian by topic