fumo
/ˈfu.mo/masculine
The English word "smoke" translates to fumo in Italian.
The noun fumo refers to the visible particles and vapour given off by burning material. If you are referring to the action of inhaling and exhaling smoke from a cigarette or tobacco, you should use the related verb fumare.
Meaning: visible particles and vapour given off by burning material (noun)
Which one should you use?
In English, "smoke" can function as both a noun and a verb. In Italian, these functions are split: use the noun fumo for the substance itself and the verb fumare for the action.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun fumo is masculine, which means it is used with masculine articles such as il (e.g., il fumo).
How do you pronounce it?
fumo is pronounced /ˈfu.mo/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In the Vatican, fumo bianco (white smoke) and fumo nero (black smoke) are used to signal to the world whether a new Pope has been elected.
- The phrase vendere fumo literally means 'to sell smoke' and is used to describe someone who makes empty promises or sells a product that is useless.
- The English word 'smoke' and the Italian fumo share the same ancient ancestor, the Proto-Indo-European word *dʰuh₂mós.
Examples in context
- Io non fumo più.I don't smoke any more.Tatoeba #4715069 by Guybrush88, translation #841850 by sundown
- Io non fumo erba.I don't smoke weed.Tatoeba #5911777 by Guybrush88, translation #5757605 by CM
- È apparso del fumo.Smoke appeared.This sentence is useful for describing the appearance of fumo.Tatoeba #4564968 by Guybrush88, translation #680229 by Source_VOA
- Il divieto di fumare all'interno dell'edificio è strettamente rispettato.The smoking ban inside the building is strictly respected.
- Voglio uscire a fumare una sigaretta.I want to go out and smoke a cigarette.
- 100 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Sofia are walking in the street when they notice something burning.
- MatteoSofia, guarda quel fumo nero!Sofia, look at that black smoke!
- SofiaSì, Matteo, sembra un incendio.Yes, Matteo, it looks like a fire.
- MatteoIl fumo è molto denso.The smoke is very thick.
- SofiaDobbiamo chiamare i vigili del fuoco.We must call the firefighters.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smoke” translations and entries fumo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fumo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
