severo

strict, severe

adjective seh-VEH-roh Less Common

Origin: Latin 'severus' (serious, strict).

Also means

harsh, austere

Usage Note

Severo describes people, rules, or conditions that are strict and demanding: un professore severo (a strict teacher), misure severe (harsh measures), un inverno severo (a severe winter). It does not have the medical meaning of 'severe' (as in severe injury) — for that Italian uses grave. The adverb is severamente (vietato severamente = strictly forbidden).

Examples

"Il giudice è stato molto severo."

Natural Translation

The judge was very strict.

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