When you fall in love with a person, an idea, an animal, a pair of shoes, a dress, or anything, really, Italians have a great expression for that: un colpo di fulmine. Literally, it's a lightning bolt, but it also contains the noun colpo, associated with the verb colpire (to strike). 

Sì, ho capito subito di piacergli e anche lui a me piaceva moltissimo. È stato un colpo di fulmine!

Yes, I knew immediately that he liked me, and I too liked him a great deal. It was a lightening bolt [love at first sight]!

Captions 21-23, Anna presenta La Bohème di Puccini - Part 1

 Play Caption

 

Colpo has various connotations, which is why we are devoting a lesson to this word. In police stories, it's about a shot from a firearm. 

Le hanno sparato a bruciapelo, un colpo al cuore, è morta quasi subito.

They shot her at point blank range, a shot to the heart. She died almost immediately.

Captions 52-54, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 1

 Play Caption

 

The verb colpire can be used in the same context. Colpire can imply shooting at something, but it can also mean "to hit."

E certo, erano anni che mi allenavo a sparare. E be', ma una cosa è colpire una sagoma e una cosa è ammazzare un uomo, no?

Of course, I had been training to shoot for years. Well, but it's one thing to fire at/hit a target and another to kill a man, right?

Captions 19-21, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP2 Rabbia - Part 18

 Play Caption

 

 Colpire can imply a shot from a gun, but it can be from anything else, too. 

Dieci anni fa un fulmine ha colpito l'aereo su cui viaggiavo e da allora non ho più volato.

Ten years ago, lightning struck the plane I was traveling on and since then I haven't flown.

Captions 29-30, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP1 I Bastardi - Part 21

 Play Caption

 

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Colpire is often used figuratively, just as the verb "to strike" is used in English. 

La cosa che mi ha colpito di più, sa qual è?

The thing that struck me the most, you know what it is?

Caption 23, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 1 EP3 Un cugino in fuga - Part 4

 Play Caption

 

Prendere un colpo (to take a hit) is used when something strikes you emotionally or psychologically in a violent way. It's a reference to un attacco al cuore (a heart attack).

Gianmaria, mi hai fatto prendere un colpo.

Gianmaria, you startled me (you almost gave me a heart attack).

Caption 9, JAMS EP6 - Part 3

 Play Caption

Check out this lesson that mentions using colpo when impressing someone, with fare colpo (to make a splash, to make a huge impression). 

We hope this lesson encourages you to use the verb colpire and the noun il colpo. For lots of examples of how Italians use these words, do a search on the videos page, and start scrolling!

Thanks for reading. You can write to us at [email protected]. 

banner6 PLACEHOLDER