falò
/faˈlɔ/masculine
The English word 'bonfire' is falò in Italian.
falò is a masculine noun used to describe a large, controlled outdoor fire that is lit for celebrations or as a signal.
Meaning: large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Sicily, the word fucarazzo is sometimes used to describe a bonfire.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of falò is /faˈlɔ/.
Did you know?
- During the feast of Saint John, some towns light a falò and have participants jump over the embers for good luck and fertility.
- In some Italian rural traditions, the ashes from a celebratory falò are scattered across fields to protect crops from pests and bad luck.
- The word falò is a distant relative of the English word 'beacon', as both originate from the same Greek root meaning 'light' or 'to shine'.
Examples in context
- Organizziamo un falò staseraWe're organizing a bonfire tonight
- Abbiamo acceso il falòWe lit the bonfire
- Un piccolo falò nel cortileA small bonfire in the backyard
- Un falò gigantesco sulla spiaggiaA gigantic bonfire on the beach
- Il calore del falò riscaldava l'aria frizzante della serataThe warmth of the bonfire heated the crisp evening air
- Abbiamo acceso un falò sulla spiaggia.We lit a bonfire on the beach.
- Abbiamo acceso un grande falò sulla spiaggia.We lit a large bonfire on the beach.
- Il falò della notte di San Giovanni è bellissimo.The Midsummer Eve bonfire is beautiful.
- Tutti si sono riuniti intorno al falò.Everyone gathered around the bonfire.
Example conversation
Friends are planning a beach trip for the summer.
- ChiaraMatteo, facciamo un falò in spiaggia stasera?Matteo, shall we make a bonfire on the beach tonight?
- MatteoSì, è un'ottima idea, Chiara.Yes, that is a great idea, Chiara.
- ChiaraPorto io la legna per il falò.I will bring the wood for the bonfire.
- MatteoPerfetto, io porto le torce e le sedie.Perfect, I will bring the torches and the chairs.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bonfire” translations and entries falò, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries falò, CC BY-SA 4.0.
