Meaning
spy, warning light
- spy, bug
- spy, informer, infiltrator, telltale, fink, grass
- light, gauge, indicator
- sign, indication, symptom
In a sentence
La spia della benzina è accesa da ieri.
The fuel light has been on since yesterday.
Pensi che lui sia una spia?
Do you think he is a spy?
Non fare la spia con la maestra.
Don't be a tattletale with the teacher.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| spia | feminine · singular |
| spie | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For a secret agent or informer, spia is common. agente segreto is more specific; delatore sounds more formal and strongly negative.
- For dashboard lights, spia is very common: si è accesa la spia. Don’t confuse it with luce alone, which is broader.
- As “sign/indication,” spia is less common and often journalistic. In everyday speech, segno, sintomo, or indizio are often more natural.