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scontare

to discount

verb skon-TAH-reh Rare

Also means

to serve (a sentence)

Usage Note

Scontare takes avere as its auxiliary and has two key senses: (1) to apply a discount — scontare il prezzo ('to discount the price'); (2) in legal Italian, to serve a sentence — scontare una pena ('to serve a sentence'). This second meaning surprises learners who only know the commercial use. The noun sconto (discount) shares the root. Do not confuse with scantare, which does not exist.

Examples

"Ha scontato cinque anni in prigione."

Natural Translation

He served five years in prison.

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