Odiare vs. detestare

'Odiare' and 'detestare' are both Italian verbs meaning to hate, but they have slightly different connotations and usage.

Odiare

'Odiare' means to hate in a strong, intense way. It often implies a deep-seated, long-lasting feeling of hatred or extreme dislike.
Odio il lunedì mattina.
(I hate Monday mornings.)
Lei odia i ragni.
(She hates spiders.)
Odio quando la gente mente.
(I hate it when people lie.)

Detestare

'Detestare' means to detest or loathe. It expresses a strong aversion or intense dislike, but is often considered slightly less intense than 'odiare'.
Detesto il traffico in città.
(I detest the traffic in the city.)
Lui detesta il sapore dell'aglio.
(He loathes the taste of garlic.)
Detesto dover aspettare in fila.
(I detest having to wait in line.)

Summary

While both 'odiare' and 'detestare' express strong negative feelings, 'odiare' is generally considered more intense and often implies a deeper, more enduring hatred. 'Detestare' expresses strong dislike or aversion but is slightly less intense. 'Odiare' is more commonly used in everyday language, while 'detestare' might be perceived as slightly more formal or refined.