arcobaleno
/ˌar.ko.baˈle.no/masculine
The Italian word for rainbow is arcobaleno. Wiktionary also lists iride.
Meaning: multicoloured arch in the sky (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| arcobaleno | /ˌar.ko.baˈle.no/ | masculine |
| iride | /ˈi.ri.de/ | feminine |
The term refers to the multicolored arch seen in the sky.
What does it mean word for word?
The word arcobaleno is a compound of arco, meaning arch and baleno, meaning flash or lightning.
Which one should you use?
Arcobaleno is the common word for the meteorological phenomenon. In contrast, iride is a more poetic or scientific term referring to the rainbow as an iris or a colorful phenomenon.
How does it change in a sentence?
Arcobaleno is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌar.ko.baˈle.no/.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word iride is also used to describe the fragrance of a specific flower, the iris.
- The word iride comes from the Greek goddess Iris, who served as the messenger of the gods and used the rainbow as her path to earth.
- In many Italian folk traditions, a rainbow is not just a visual wonder but a sign of a hidden treasure, often located at the point where the 'arch' touches the ground.
Examples in context
- Ha mai visto un arcobaleno?Have you ever seen a rainbow?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has seen a rainbow using arcobaleno.Tatoeba #8161922 by Guybrush88, translation #6545241 by Hybrid
- Sole e pioggia, arcobaleno.Sun and rain, rainbow.This sentence is useful for describing the conditions that create an arcobaleno.Tatoeba #14050220 by Guybrush88, translation #1928105 by Zuriberri
- L'arcobaleno ha sette colori.The rainbow has seven colors.This sentence is useful for stating the number of colors in an arcobaleno.Tatoeba #378137 by Pharamp, translation #281035 by CK
- L'arcobaleno appare dopo la pioggiaThe rainbow appears after the rain.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are walking in a park after a light rain.
- ChiaraLorenzo, guarda sopra di te!Lorenzo, look above you!
- LorenzoWow, un arcobaleno meraviglioso.Wow, a wonderful rainbow.
- ChiaraÈ davvero splendido oggi.It is truly splendid today.
- LorenzoSì, la natura è incredibile.Yes, nature is incredible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rainbow” translations and entries arcobaleno, iride, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arcobaleno, iride, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
