Selvaggio vs. selvatico
The Italian words 'selvaggio' and 'selvatico' both relate to wildness, but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Selvaggio
'Selvaggio' generally refers to something or someone that is wild, untamed, or uncivilized. It often implies a more intense or primitive form of wildness.
Il leone è un animale selvaggio e pericoloso.
(The lion is a wild and dangerous animal.)
La tribù viveva in un territorio selvaggio e inesplorato.
(The tribe lived in a wild and unexplored territory.)
Il ragazzo aveva un comportamento selvaggio e incontrollabile.
(The boy had a wild and uncontrollable behavior.)
Selvatico
'Selvatico' typically describes plants or animals that are wild or uncultivated, but in a less intense way than 'selvaggio'. It often refers to things found in nature, without the connotation of danger or primitiveness.
Abbiamo raccolto funghi selvatici nel bosco.
(We collected wild mushrooms in the forest.)
Il gatto selvatico è più timido del gatto domestico.
(The wildcat is shyer than the domestic cat.)
Le erbe selvatiche hanno un sapore più intenso di quelle coltivate.
(Wild herbs have a more intense flavor than cultivated ones.)
Summary
While both 'selvaggio' and 'selvatico' relate to wildness, 'selvaggio' is often used for more intense, untamed, or potentially dangerous forms of wildness, whereas 'selvatico' typically describes plants and animals in their natural, uncultivated state without necessarily implying danger or primitiveness.