guaio

Italian

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wai (“expression of grief”)[1]. Perhaps via Ancient Greek οὐαί (ouaí), popularized by the verse in Revelation 8:13. Compare English woe, German Weh, Latin vae.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɡwa.jo/, [ˈɡwäːjo]
  • Hyphenation: guà‧io

Noun

guaio m (plural guai)

  1. (archaic, chiefly in the plural) lament, lamentation, cry
  2. (archaic, by extension) hardship, misfortune
  3. (by extension) trouble, difficulty, mess, pickle, fix, woe, jam
    Io non ho guai. ― I do not have problems.
    Siamo nei guai. ― We're in trouble.

Synonyms

Derived terms

References
  1. guaio in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
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