cielo
/ˈt͡ʃɛ.lo/
cielo is the Italian word for sky or heaven.
cielo can refer to the physical expanse above the earth, known as the sky or to the spiritual concept of heaven. The related adjective celeste is used to describe things that are the color of the sky or are celestial in nature.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cielo literally means sky or heaven.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are referring to the sky in a sentence, you will typically use the noun with the definite article, as in il cielo.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃɛ.lo/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The Latin root of cielo, which is caelum, is also the source of the English word 'ceiling', showing how the concept of an overhead covering survived through different languages.
- In Italian, the word cielo is used as an interjection like 'Heavens!' or 'Good grief!' to express shock, frustration or surprise.
- While celeste describes the color of the sky, it is also the official name for the specific shade of light blue used in the jerseys of the Italian national football team.
Examples in context
- Il cielo è limpido stasera.The sky is clear tonight.
- Le stelle illuminano il cielo notturno.The stars illuminate the night sky.
- Domani farà un bel sole, senza nuvole nel cielo.Tomorrow, it will be sunny, without clouds in the sky.
- Il cielo è molto limpido oggi.The sky is very clear today.
- Guarda quel cielo stellato!Look at that starry sky!
- Le nuvole coprono tutto il cielo.The clouds cover the whole sky.
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are sitting on a balcony at night.
- GiuliaChe bel cielo stasera, Alessandro!What a beautiful sky tonight, Alessandro!
- AlessandroHai ragione, Giulia, è incredibile.You're right, Giulia, it is incredible.
- GiuliaPosso vedere tantissime stelle.I can see so many stars.
- AlessandroSì, il cielo è davvero limpido.Yes, the sky is truly clear.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cielo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cielo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
