Bologna
/boˈloɲ.ɲa/feminine
Bologna is the Italian name for the city of Bologna.
Bologna refers to the specific city in Italy.
Meaning: city (name)
How does it change in a sentence?
The name is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /boˈloɲ.ɲa/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly pronounce the 'gn' as a hard 'g' followed by 'n' (like the meat bologna), but in Italian, the 'gn' represents a single palatalized sound.
Did you know?
- The city is often nicknamed 'La Grassa', which means 'The Fat One'. This nickname refers to the city's legendary and rich culinary tradition.
- Bologna is home to the oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088, which influenced the legal terminology of many European languages.
- In many English-speaking countries, 'bologna' refers to a type of sausage, but in Italy, this meat is actually called 'mortadella'. Calling the meat 'Bologna' in Italy would likely cause confusion.
Examples in context
- Eri a Bologna?Were you in Bologna?This sentence is useful for asking if someone was in Bologna.Tatoeba #3382195 by Guybrush88, translation #11704094 by WM3DAS
- Vorrei un panino con mortadella, per favore.I would like a sandwich with mortadella, please.
- Bologna è una città bellissima.Bologna is a beautiful city.
- Voglio andare a Bologna questo fine settimana.I want to go to Bologna this weekend.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing travel plans over coffee.
- MartinaHai mai visitato Bologna?Have you ever visited Bologna?
- MatteoNo, non ci sono mai stato.No, I have never been there.
- MartinaDovresti andarci, è fantastica!You should go, it's fantastic!
- MatteoHai ragione, ci andrò presto.You're right, I'll go there soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bologna” translations and entries Bologna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
