gettare
to throw
verb jet-TAH-reh Rare
Origin: From Latin iactare (to throw repeatedly), frequentative of iacere.
Also means
to cast; to fling
Usage Note
Gettare takes avere and means to throw, fling or discard: gettare via ('to throw away'), gettare le basi ('to lay the foundations'), reflexive gettarsi ('to throw oneself, to plunge'). The initial ge gives the soft 'j' sound, since g before e or i is always soft. For throwing a ball in sports lanciare is more common; gettare is preferred for discarding or casting.
Examples
"Ha gettato la lettera nel cestino."
Natural Translation
He threw the letter in the bin.

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