intolleranza

intolerance

noun een-tol-leh-RAHN-tsah Rare

Origin: From Latin intolerantia, from in- (not) + tolerare (to bear).

Usage Note

Intolleranza covers both social intolerance (intolleranza razziale, racial intolerance) and physical intolerance (intolleranza al lattosio, lactose intolerance). Note the double 'l'. The adjective is intollerante. It is not a false friend — it maps closely to English 'intolerance'.

Examples

"L'intolleranza al glutine è molto diffusa."

Natural Translation

Gluten intolerance is very widespread.

Literal Translation

The intolerance to-the gluten is very widespread.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

C'è vs Ci Sono: There Is/Are in Italian

C'è for one thing, ci sono for many — that's the rule. Master Italian's there is/there are with c'era, ci sarà, è vs c'è, and non c'è nessuno.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Question Words: Chi, Cosa, Dove, Quando & More

Master Italian question words: chi, cosa, dove, quando, perché, come, quanto and quale. A usage-first guide that finally sorts che vs cosa vs quale.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read