schiavo

slave

noun SKYAH-voh Rare

Origin: From Medieval Latin sclavus, from Sclavus (Slav), as many Slavic peoples were enslaved in early medieval Europe.

Usage Note

Schiavo is masculine; the feminine form is schiava, plural schiavi / schiave. Historically it refers to an enslaved person. In informal, colloquial Italian sono schiavo del lavoro (I am a slave to work) is used idiomatically without offensive intent, though in formal and educational contexts the historical weight of the word is foregrounded.

Examples

"Lo schiavo lavorava nei campi tutto il giorno."

Natural Translation

The slave worked in the fields all day.

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