Agitare vs. scuotere
Both 'agitare' and 'scuotere' in Italian mean 'to shake', but they have subtle differences in usage and intensity.
Agitare
'Agitare' typically means to shake in a more gentle or continuous manner, often implying stirring or mixing.
Agita bene la bottiglia prima di bere.
(Shake the bottle well before drinking.)
Per preparare il cocktail, agita gli ingredienti nello shaker.
(To prepare the cocktail, shake the ingredients in the shaker.)
Agita la mano per salutare.
(Wave your hand to say hello.)
Scuotere
'Scuotere' generally implies a more vigorous or abrupt shaking, often with the idea of dislodging something.
Scuoti l'albero per far cadere le mele.
(Shake the tree to make the apples fall.)
Il terremoto ha scosso l'intero edificio.
(The earthquake shook the entire building.)
Ha scosso la testa in segno di disapprovazione.
(He shook his head in disapproval.)
Summary
While 'agitare' is used for gentler, often continuous shaking or stirring actions, 'scuotere' is typically used for more forceful, abrupt shaking. 'Agitare' is commonly used in contexts like mixing drinks or waving, while 'scuotere' is often used for actions like shaking trees, experiencing earthquakes, or expressing disapproval through body language.