ripudiare

to repudiate

verb ree-poo-DYAH-reh Rare

Origin: Latin repudiare (to reject, divorce)

Also means

to renounce

Usage Note

Ripudiare carries a strong sense of moral or legal rejection; historically it referred to a husband repudiating his wife, a sense now archaic. In modern Italian it is used for renouncing an inheritance (ripudiare un'eredità) or formally disavowing a doctrine or person. It is more emphatic than the neutral rifiutare.

Examples

"Ha deciso di ripudiare l'eredità del padre."

Natural Translation

He decided to renounce his father's inheritance.

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 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

Tu vs Lei: Formal & Informal "You" in Italian

When in doubt, use Lei. Here's exactly when to use tu vs Lei in Italian — the who-to-use-with map, the verb and possessive shifts, and how to switch politely.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Ti Amo vs Ti Voglio Bene: I Love You in Italian

Ti amo is romantic love; ti voglio bene is tender affection for family and close friends. Here's exactly who to say each phrase to in Italian.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

C'è vs Ci Sono: There Is/Are in Italian

C'è for one thing, ci sono for many — that's the rule. Master Italian's there is/there are with c'era, ci sarà, è vs c'è, and non c'è nessuno.

June 9, 2026 5 min read