martire

martyr

noun MAHR-tee-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin martyr, from Greek mártys, 'witness'.

Usage Note

Martire is a common-gender noun — both men and women use the same form: il martire (m), la martire (f). The plural is i martiri (m) or le martiri (f). In religious contexts it refers to someone who died for their faith; colloquially, fare il martire means to play the victim or seek pity.

Examples

"San Sebastiano è venerato come martire cristiano."

Natural Translation

Saint Sebastian is venerated as a Christian martyr.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

You're Welcome in Italian: 8 Ways Beyond Prego

You're welcome in Italian is more than prego: say figurati to friends, si figuri to strangers, di niente, non c'è di che, or grazie a te. Pick the right one.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Noun Gender: Rules, Endings & Exceptions

Italian noun gender decoded: -o is usually masculine, -a feminine, but -zione and -tà are feminine, -ore and -ma masculine. Plus the trap words to memorize.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Reflexive Verbs: Mi Chiamo, Mi Alzo & More

Italian reflexive verbs use mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si — learn the pronouns, conjugate chiamarsi and alzarsi, master your daily routine, and the modal-verb rule.

June 5, 2026 5 min read