Meaning
devil
- devil, demon
- rascal, poor devil
In a sentence
Quel povero diavolo ha perso sia il lavoro che la casa.
That poor devil lost both his job and his house.
Che diavolo hai fatto al computer?
What the devil did you do to the computer?
I bambini hanno spesso paura del diavolo.
Children are often afraid of the devil.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| diavolo | masculine · singular |
| diavoli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use 'diavolo' for Satan or evil spirits; 'demonio' is more literary or religious.
- In exclamations like 'Che diavolo!', it’s informal and slightly vulgar—avoid in formal settings.
- Unlike 'demonio', 'diavolo' can mean 'a mischievous person' (e.g., 'Quel bambino è un diavolo').