Meaning
impious person
- wicked person
In a sentence
Nel poema l'empio viene punito dagli dèi.
In the poem the impious man is punished by the gods.
L'autore descrive il re come un empio.
The author describes the king as an impious man.
Per Dante, chi tradisce è un empio.
For Dante, one who betrays is an impious person.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| empio | masculine · singular |
| empi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- As a noun, empio is literary and rare; in everyday Italian, people usually say miscredente, sacrilego, or peccatore depending on context.
- Often used as an adjective too: un uomo empio. Learners may confuse noun and adjective use; the form is identical in masculine singular.
- It carries a strong religious tone, not just 'cruel' or 'wicked.' Avoid it for ordinary bad behavior.