profumo
/proˈfu.mo/masculine
The Italian word for perfume is profumo.
profumo refers to a substance that provides a pleasant smell, such as a manufactured perfume. However, it is also used more broadly to describe any pleasant scent or fragrance in general. Italian speakers may also use the French term Eau de parfum to refer to perfume. Related terms for scents include vaniglia (vanilla), gelsomino (jasmine) and legno di sandalo (sandalwood).
Meaning: substance providing a pleasant smell (noun)
Which one should you use?
While profumo is used for pleasant scents, the word odore is a neutral term for a smell that is often used to describe unpleasant odors.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The related verb profumare means to scent or to perfume. This verb can be used to describe applying perfume to a person, but it can also mean to scent a room or an object.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /proˈfu.mo/.
Did you know?
- The verb profumare is frequently used in Italian recipes to describe the act of flavoring a dish with spices or herbs.
- The Italian word profumo is a distant relative of the English word 'perfume', but it also shares a root with the word 'fume' or 'smoke'.
- The word profumo can be used metaphorically to describe a person's 'aura' or the lingering impression they leave behind in a room.
Examples in context
- Amo il suo profumo!I love her perfume.Tatoeba #1334666 by Guybrush88, translation #1334601 by CK
- Dov'è il mio profumo?Where's my perfume?Tatoeba #13383758 by Guybrush88, translation #9408851 by CK
- Io amo questo profumo.I love this perfume.Tatoeba #13298171 by Guybrush88, translation #9150383 by CK
- Mi piace un profumo dolce e floreale.I like a sweet and floral perfume.
- Questo profumino ha un odore fresco e leggero.This little perfume has a fresh and light scent.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are in a department store.
- MatteoTi piace questo profumo?Do you like this perfume?
- MartinaSì, ha un profumo delicato.Yes, it has a delicate scent.
- MatteoÈ un buon regalo per lei.It is a good gift for her.
- MartinaSì, lo adorerà sicuramente.Yes, she will certainly love it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “perfume” translations and entries profumo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries profumo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
