bingo
/ˈbin.ɡo/masculine
The Italian word for 'bingo' is bingo.
bingo is a masculine noun referring to the international game of chance. Additionally, the exclamation Bingo! can be used informally to express that someone has hit the mark or found the correct answer, just like in English.
Meaning: game of chance (noun)
Which one should you use?
While bingo refers to the international game, tombola refers to the traditional Italian version often played during Christmas.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ˈbin.ɡo/. The stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While bingo is a game of chance, tombola is often a communal event where prizes are not money but food or household objects. These games frequently serve as a social glue during the Christmas holidays in Italian villages.
- In a traditional tombola game, players do not just win by completing a pattern. There are multiple stages of winning, such as ambo for two numbers and terzina for three.
- The word bingo in Italian is a direct borrowing from English, meaning it has not undergone any spelling changes to fit Italian phonology.
Examples in context
- Il bingo è qualcosa a cui giocano le nonne.Bingo is something that grandmothers play.This sentence is useful for describing what grandmothers play with the word bingo.Tatoeba #4740868 by Guybrush88, translation #4298780 by Lepotdeterre
- Bingo!Bingo!This sentence shows the use of the exclamation bingo.Tatoeba #4582695 by Guybrush88, translation #7670706 by soliloquist
- Il bingo è molto popolare in vacanza.Bingo is very popular on vacation.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are deciding on a game for the evening.
- LorenzoTi va di giocare a bingo?Do you want to play bingo?
- GiuliaSì, mi piace molto il bingo.Yes, I like bingo very much.
- LorenzoAllora prendo le cartelle e i numeri.Then I'll get the cards and the numbers.
- GiuliaPerfetto, inizio io a segnare!Perfect, I'll start marking!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bingo” translations and entries bingo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bingo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
