Skip to content

epitaffio

epitaph

noun eh-pee-TAF-fyoh Rare

Origin: From Latin epitaphium, from Greek epitaphion (funeral oration), from epi- (upon) + taphos (tomb).

Usage Note

Epitaffio refers to the inscription carved on a gravestone or tomb. It is distinct from elogio funebre (eulogy, a spoken tribute). The plural is regular: gli epitaffi. In figurative use it can describe any final, defining statement about a person or era.

Examples

"L'epitaffio era inciso sulla pietra."

Natural Translation

The epitaph was engraved on the stone.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Italian by topic