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primitivo

primitive

adjective pree-mee-TEE-boh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Also means

early

Usage Note

Primitivo can describe early-stage technology or society (arte primitivo, 'primitive art') or, more neutrally, 'original' in historical writing (la iglesia primitiva, 'the early Church'). Used of a person it can be derogatory ('uncivilized'), so context matters. The adverb is primitivamente.

Examples

"Usaban herramientas muy primitivas."

Natural Translation

They used very primitive tools.

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