Meaning
loan shark, usurer
- A person who lends money at unlawfully high interest rates.
In a sentence
Per pagare i debiti si è rivolto a un usuraio senza scrupoli.
To pay off his debts, he turned to an unscrupulous loan shark.
La polizia ha arrestato un noto usuraio che minacciava i commercianti del quartiere.
The police arrested a well-known loan shark who was threatening local shopkeepers.
Non dovresti mai chiedere un prestito a un usuraio.
You should never ask a loan shark for a loan.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| usuraio | masculine · singular |
| usurai | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal synonyms include 'strozzino' or the Roman regional 'cravattaro'.