Skip to content

panico

panic

noun PAH-nee-koh Rare

Origin: From Greek panikon (of Pan), named after the god Pan who caused sudden irrational fear.

Usage Note

Panico is masculine. The common phrase farsi prendere dal panico means 'to be seized by panic.' The adjective panico is rarely used; in preda al panico (in the grip of panic) and attacco di panico (panic attack) are fixed expressions. The plural panici is rarely needed since the noun is usually uncountable in context.

Examples

"La folla è fuggita in preda al panico."

Natural Translation

The crowd fled in a panic.

Literal Translation

The crowd fled in prey to-the panic.

Explore Italian by topic