ricatto

blackmail

noun ree-KAHT-toh Rare

Also means

extortion

Usage Note

Ricatto is masculine: il ricatto, plural i ricatti. It specifically means blackmail (coercion through threatened exposure), distinguishable from estorsione (extortion through violence or threats of harm). The verb is ricattare (to blackmail), and the perpetrator is il ricattatore / la ricattatrice. Tenere qualcuno in pugno con un ricatto = to hold someone over a barrel.

Examples

"Ha ceduto al ricatto per paura dello scandalo."

Natural Translation

He gave in to the blackmail for fear of the scandal.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Prepositions: A, In, Di, Da, Su Made Simple

Cities take a, countries take in, origin is di, agents are da. Master the five Italian prepositions a, in, di, da, su and their contractions fast.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

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 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