sacrificio

sacrifice

noun sahk-ree-FEE-choh Rare

Origin: From Latin sacrificium (sacred offering), from sacer (sacred) + facere (to make).

Usage Note

Sacrificio is masculine and is used both for religious sacrifice (il sacrificio sull'altare) and for personal sacrifice or effort (fare sacrifici per la famiglia — to make sacrifices for one's family). The plural sacrifici loses the final -o. The verb derived from it is sacrificare (to sacrifice).

Examples

"Ha fatto molti sacrifici per dare ai figli un'istruzione."

Natural Translation

She made many sacrifices to give her children an education.

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

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

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

ItalianNow

Mi Piace vs Mi Piacciono: How to Say 'I Like'

Use mi piace for one thing and mi piacciono for many — because in Italian the thing you like is the subject. The full rule, pronouns, and past tense.

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