Meaning
wicked, malicious, nasty
- Intentionally malicious, deceitful, or cruel behind a harmless facade.
- (Of things, questions, traps) tricky, insidious, or treacherous.
In a sentence
Il professore ci ha fatto una domanda perfida all'esame.
The professor asked us a tricky question on the exam.
Ha sorriso in modo perfido dopo aver fatto quel brutto scherzo.
He smiled wickedly after playing that mean prank.
Non fidarti delle sue intenzioni perché ha un piano perfido.
Don't trust his intentions because he has a wicked plan.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| perfido | masculine · singular |
| perfida | feminine · singular |
| perfidi | masculine · plural |
| perfide | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Conveys malice combined with deceit or treachery, not merely rudeness.
- Can be applied jokingly to clever trick questions: 'una domanda perfida'.