Selvaggio vs. selvatico
The Italian words selvaggio and selvatico both relate to wildness, but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Selvaggio
B1Selvaggio 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
B2Selvatico 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.