selvatico

wild

adjective sel-VAH-tee-koh Rare

Origin: from Latin silvaticus, 'of the forest' (silva, forest)

Also means

savage

Usage Note

Selvatico describes animals or plants that are wild (not domesticated): animale selvatico, erba selvatica. Applied to people it means 'unsociable, rough, feral.' It should not be confused with selvaggio, which more strongly implies savagery or primitiveness. The feminine is selvatica.

Examples

"Il cinghiale è un animale selvatico."

Natural Translation

The wild boar is a wild animal.

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