leccare

to lick

verb lek-KAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin lingere 'to lick,' with form influenced by Germanic

Usage Note

Leccare means to lick, used of both people and animals. The idiomatic phrase leccarsi i baffi ('to lick one's whiskers/lips') means to find something delicious or to relish something. Colloquially, leccare can also mean to flatter excessively — leccare i piedi a qualcuno ('to lick someone's boots'). Auxiliary avere.

Examples

"Il gatto si lecca le zampe."

Natural Translation

The cat licks its paws.

Literal Translation

The cat itself licks the paws.

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