bomba
/ˈbom.ba/
The English phrase "bombshell" is translated into Italian as bomba.
The term bomba is used to describe something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational. When you want to express the action of "dropping" a bombshell, Italians often use the expression sganciare una bomba, which uses the verb sganciare to mean to release, drop or unleash.
Meaning: something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈbom.ba/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, bomba is also the name of a traditional cream-filled pastry from the city of Naples, proving that the word can be delicious as well as shocking.
- While bomba means a bombshell in news or gossip, it can also be used as a slang term for a person who is exceptionally attractive. Calling someone a bomba is a common, though informal, way to describe their physical beauty.
- While bomba can mean a shocking surprise, it is also used as a slang adjective to describe something amazing or cool, such as questo posto è una bomba meaning 'this place is awesome'.
Examples in context
- Il sindaco ha sganciato una bomba durante la conferenza stampa.The mayor dropped a bombshell at the news conference.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use bomba in the context of a news conference.Tatoeba #4707562 by Guybrush88, translation #2438255 by Hybrid
- La rivelazione di quel segreto è stata una vera bomba.The revelation of that secret was a real bombshell.
- Quella notizia è una bomba!That news is a bombshell!
- Quella notizia è stata una vera bomba.That news was a real bombshell.
- Il suo nuovo libro è una bomba.Her new book is a bombshell.
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are discussing a recent news report at a cafe.
- ChiaraHai sentito la bomba di stamattina?Did you hear the bombshell from this morning?
- AlessandroNo, cosa è successo, Chiara?No, what happened, Chiara?
- ChiaraIl capo si è dimesso improvvisamente!The boss resigned suddenly!
- AlessandroDavvero? È una notizia incredibile!Really? That is incredible news!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bomba, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
