scrutare

to scrutinize

verb skroo-TAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin scrutari, 'to search thoroughly'.

Also means

to scan

Usage Note

Scrutare implies a careful, searching gaze — studying a face for clues, scanning the horizon, or probing someone's expression. It is more literary than guardare (to look) or osservare (to observe). It takes avere as its auxiliary: ha scrutato il cielo (he scanned the sky). The related noun is scrutinio (scrutiny, ballot count).

Examples

"Scrutò il suo viso in cerca di emozioni."

Natural Translation

He scrutinized her face looking for emotions.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

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

ItalianNow

Buongiorno, Ciao or Salve? Italian Greetings Made Easy

When in doubt, say salve and mirror the reply. Here's how to pick between buongiorno, buonasera, ciao and salve so your Italian greetings never sound rude.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Present Tense: -are, -ere, -ire Verbs

Conjugate Italian present-tense verbs fast: one color-coded chart for -are, -ere, and -ire endings, plus the sneaky -isc- group most guides bury.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 min read