soffocare
to suffocate
verb sof-foh-KAH-reh Rare
Origin: Latin suffocare, from sub (under) + fauces (throat)
Also means
to stifle
Usage Note
Soffocare takes avere as auxiliary and is used both literally (soffocare tra le fiamme) and figuratively (soffocare la rivolta, to stifle a revolt; questo caldo mi soffoca, this heat is suffocating me). The double 'f' is essential — sofocare is a misspelling.
Examples
"Il fumo lo faceva soffocare."
Natural Translation
The smoke was making him suffocate.
Literal Translation
The smoke him made to-suffocate.
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