nuvola
/ˈnu.vo.la/feminine
The Italian word for cloud is nuvola. Wiktionary also lists nube and nembo.
Meaning: visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nuvola | /ˈnu.vo.la/ | feminine |
| nube | /ˈnu.be/ | feminine |
| nembo | /ˈnem.bo/ | masculine |
All forms of the word refer to a visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air.
Which one should you use?
nuvola is the most common word for a cloud in everyday conversation. nube is more technical or literary and is often used in scientific contexts like meteorology. nembo refers specifically to a dark, heavy or storm cloud and is used in poetic or literary contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
nuvola is a feminine noun. Its plural form is nuvole. nube is also a feminine noun. Its plural form is nubi. nembo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈnu.vo.la/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word nembo is a doublet of nimbo. While nembo refers to the storm cloud, nimbo is used in art history to describe the halo of light around a saint's head.
- While nuvola is used for a cloud in the sky, the word nuvola is also used to describe the spray of foam produced by a coffee machine or a whipped cream topping.
- The word nuvola comes from the Latin nūbila, which was a noun created from the feminine form of the adjective nūbilus meaning 'cloudy'.
Examples in context
- La nuvola è grigia.The cloud is grey.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a nuvola.Tatoeba #4911341 by Guybrush88, translation #4902370 by venticello
- Non c'è una nuvola in cielo.There's not a cloud in the sky.This sentence is useful for describing an empty sky using nuvola.Tatoeba #425822 by Pharamp, translation #507297 by CM
- Una nube è vapore condensato.A cloud is condensed steam.This sentence is useful for providing a scientific definition of a nube.Tatoeba #4363272 by Guybrush88, translation #2929940 by mervert1
- Il cielo era coperto di nuvole grigie.The sky was covered with gray clouds.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are walking in a park on a sunny day.
- GiuliaGuarda quella nuvola, Lorenzo!Look at that cloud, Lorenzo!
- LorenzoSì, sembra un coniglio.Yes, it looks like a rabbit.
- GiuliaÈ una nuvola bellissima.It is a beautiful cloud.
- LorenzoHai ragione, Giulia.You are right, Giulia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cloud” translations and entries nuvola, nube, nembo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nembo, nube, nuvola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
