scandire

to scan

verb skahn-DEE-reh Rare

Origin: Latin scandere, to climb (by syllables)

Also means

to chant rhythmically

Usage Note

Scandire has two main senses: to scan or clearly articulate syllables (scandire le parole, to enunciate clearly) and to chant rhythmically, as a crowd might do at a rally. It is an irregular third-conjugation verb; the present tense follows -isc- insertion in some forms: scandisco, scandisci, scandisce.

Examples

"La folla scandiva il nome del campione."

Natural Translation

The crowd was chanting the champion's name.

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 Numbers 1 to 100: Count Like a Local

Learn Italian numbers 1 to 100 by mastering 0-20, the tens, and 3 spelling rules so you can generate any number from ventuno to novantanove on demand.

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

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

Italian Diminutives: -ino, -etto, -one Explained

Italian diminutives like -ino, -etto, and -one signal size, affection, or contempt. Learn to read the feeling, dodge gender flips, and spot false diminutives.

June 9, 2026 6 min read