malizia
malice, cunning
noun mah-LEE-tsyah Rare
Origin: from Latin malitia (wickedness)
Also means
mischievousness
Usage Note
Malizia covers a range from playful mischief to deliberate malice — context determines the shade. Con malizia can mean 'mischievously' or 'maliciously'. A learner should note that in Italian the word can be lighter than the English 'malice'; una malizia da bambino simply means 'a child's mischievousness'. The adjective is malizioso.
Examples
"Sorrise con una certa malizia."
Natural Translation
She smiled with a certain mischievousness.
Related Words
Explore Italian by topic
ItalianNow
5 min read