tumulto
/tuˈmul.to/masculine
The English word riot can be translated into Italian as tumulto. Wiktionary also lists schiamazzo and bordello.
Meaning: tumultuous disturbance of public peace (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tumulto | /tuˈmul.to/ | masculine |
| schiamazzo | /skjaˈmat.t͡so/ | |
| bordello | /borˈdɛl.lo/ | masculine |
A riot is a tumultuous disturbance of public peace.
Which one should you use?
While tumulto refers to a physical disturbance or riot, bordello is used colloquially to describe a state of total chaos or a messy situation. Schiamazzo focuses specifically on the loud, discordant noise made by a crowd rather than the physical violence of a riot.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tumulto is tumulti.
How do you pronounce it?
tumulto is pronounced /tuˈmul.to/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- While bordello can mean a riotous mess or chaos, it is most commonly known as the literal word for a 'brothel'.
- The word bordello shares a distant root with the English word 'board', coming from a Proto-Germanic word meaning 'table' or 'board'.
- In Italian, calling a situation a bordello is a common way to describe a disorganized room or a chaotic schedule, not just a public disturbance.
Examples in context
- Questo è un tumulto.This is a riot.This sentence is useful for identifying a tumulto.Tatoeba #8674676 by Guybrush88, translation #8674641 by ajje
- Il tumulto sfuggì di mano.The riot got out of hand.This sentence shows how a tumulto can escalate.Tatoeba #3269563 by Guybrush88, translation #321205 by CK
- Dopo l'annuncio delle nuove restrizioni, si è verificata una sommossa nel centro della città.After the announcement of the new restrictions, a riot occurred in the city center.
- Non andare al concerto, c'è sempre un putiferio!Don't go to the concert, there's always a riot!
- Gli scontri tra manifestanti e polizia hanno portato a una sommossa urbana nel quartiere principale.Clashes between protestors and the police led to an urban riot in the main district.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are watching the news on TV.
- SofiaGuarda, c'è un tumulto in piazza!Look, there is a riot in the square!
- AlessandroCosa sta succedendo esattamente?What exactly is happening?
- SofiaLe persone stanno protestando con violenza.People are protesting violently.
- AlessandroSpero che la situazione si calmi presto.I hope the situation calms down soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “riot” translations and entries tumulto, schiamazzo, bordello, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bordello, schiamazzo, tumulto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
