applauso
/apˈplaw.zo/
The Italian word for a clap or applause is applauso.
applauso is a noun used to describe the act of striking the palms of the hands together. You will often hear the phrase un applauso when someone is requesting or describing a single round of applause.
Meaning: intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular noun is applauso, while the plural form is applausi. If you want to express the action of clapping as a verb, the corresponding Italian verb is applaudire.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /apˈplaw.zo/.
Did you know?
- The phrase applauso scrosciante uses an adjective that usually describes a heavy rainstorm or a waterfall to describe the sound of clapping.
- The word battito used in battito di mani also means 'heartbeat', linking the rhythm of a clap to the rhythm of a heart.
- In Italian opera, the audience may express a specific type of praise by shouting Bravo! for a man, Brava! for a woman, or Bravi! for a group, often accompanied by an applauso.
Examples in context
- La folla ha applaudito lo spettacolo magnifico.The crowd clapped for the magnificent performance.
- Dopo il discorso del comico, tutti hanno iniziato a battere le mani.After the comedian's speech, everyone started clapping.
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are at a theater performance.
- FrancescoChe concerto fantastico, vero?What a fantastic concert, right?
- MartinaSì, merita un forte applauso!Yes, it deserves a loud round of applause!
- FrancescoHai ragione, iniziamo noi.You are right, let's start.
- MartinaSì, ora tutti battono le mani.Yes, now everyone is clapping.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry applauso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
