sambuco
/samˈbu.ko/masculine
The Italian word for elderberry is sambuco.
sambuco refers to the elderberry fruit.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
sambuco is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /samˈbu.ko/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word sambuco shares a linguistic root with the Arabic word for 'pipe' or 'flute', hinting at the historical use of the wood.
- In some Italian regional traditions, the flowers of the sambuco are as prized as the berries and are fried in batter as a delicacy.
- The elder tree, sambuco, is steeped in Italian folklore and was historically believed to protect the home from evil spirits.
Examples in context
- Mia nonna ha fatto una deliziosa marmellata di sambuco.My grandmother made a delicious elderberry jam.
- Mi piace fare il tè alle bacche di sambuco.I like making elderberry tea.
- Ho trovato un arbusto di sambuco nel giardino.I found an elderberry bush in the garden.
- Il sambuco è molto utile per il sistema immunitario.Elderberry is very useful for the immune system.
- Ho raccolto del sambuco nel bosco.I gathered some elderberry in the woods.
- Vuoi fare uno sciroppo di sambuco?Do you want to make an elderberry syrup?
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are in the kitchen preparing herbal remedies.
- MartinaLorenzo, hai preso il sambuco?Lorenzo, did you get the elderberry?
- LorenzoSì, l'ho messo nel cesto.Yes, I put it in the basket.
- MartinaOttimo, preparerò subito la medicina per te.Great, I will prepare the medicine for you right away.
- LorenzoGrazie, Martina, sei molto gentile.Thank you, Martina, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “elderberry” translations and entries sambuco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sambuco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
