guardare
/ɡwarˈdaːre/
Definition
To look at or watch something or someone with attention.
Example
I bambini guardano le stelle dal balcone.
Show translation
The children watch the stars from the balcony.
Etymology
From the Old High German *wardōn* ("to watch, to guard"), via the Frankish *wardare*. The same Germanic root gave English "ward" and "guard," and French *garder*. The shift from initial /w/ to /gw/ in Italian is a characteristic development of Germanic loanwords into Vulgar Latin.
Cultural note
Italian distinguishes *guardare* (to actively look at / watch) from *vedere* (to see, i.e. to perceive with the eyes). So "guardare la TV" means to watch TV intentionally, while "vedere un film" can mean simply to have seen one. This is a common confusion for English speakers, since English uses "see" and "watch" in a similar but not identical way. Note also the phrase *guarda!* — used constantly in conversation as "look!" or even "well!" to signal emphasis or mild surprise.