Meaning
strict, severe
- severe
- strict
In a sentence
Il mio professore è molto severo con i ritardi.
My teacher is very strict about lateness.
Perché sei così severo con tuo fratello?
Why are you so strict with your brother?
La sua faccia non sembra severa oggi.
Her face doesn't seem severe today.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| severo | masculine · singular |
| severa | feminine · singular |
| severi | masculine · plural |
| severe | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use severo for people, rules, judgments, weather, or symptoms. For flavors or style, duro or austero may sound more natural.
- With people, severo often means stern rather than cruel. For openly harsh or violent behavior, duro or crudele is usually stronger.
- It agrees in gender and number: severo, severa, severi, severe. Learners often forget severe for feminine plural.