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disgrazia

misfortune

noun deez-GRAH-tsyah Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Also means

disgrace

Usage Note

Disgrazia is a false friend for English speakers: it does not primarily mean 'disgrace' (moral shame) but rather 'misfortune' or 'accident': per disgrazia ('by misfortune', 'unfortunately'). Cadere in disgrazia means 'to fall from favour', which is the sense closer to English 'disgrace'. The adjective disgraziato means both 'unfortunate' and, as a noun, 'wretch'.

Examples

"Per disgrazia ha perso il portafoglio in treno."

Natural Translation

Unfortunately he lost his wallet on the train.

Literal Translation

By misfortune he-has lost the wallet on train.

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