sussistenza

subsistence

noun soos-sees-TEN-tsah Rare

Origin: Latin subsistentia, from subsistere 'to stand firm'

Also means

livelihood

Usage Note

Sussistenza refers to the minimum means needed to survive — economia di sussistenza (subsistence economy), mezzi di sussistenza (means of subsistence). It also has a philosophical sense: the existence or reality of something (la sussistenza di un diritto, 'the existence of a right'). This dual meaning (survival vs. existence) can trip up learners relying on context alone.

Examples

"Vivevano di pura sussistenza."

Natural Translation

They lived on pure subsistence.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

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

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

C'è vs Ci Sono: There Is/Are in Italian

C'è for one thing, ci sono for many — that's the rule. Master Italian's there is/there are with c'era, ci sarà, è vs c'è, and non c'è nessuno.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Dialects vs Standard Italian: A Guide

Standard Italian works everywhere, so relax: this three-layer guide to Italian dialects vs standard Italian shows what to ignore and what to notice.

June 9, 2026 6 min read