Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tempesta | /temˈpɛs.ta/ | feminine |
| bufera | /buˈfɛ.ra/ | feminine |
| burrasca | /burˈras.ka/ | feminine |
| temporale | /tem.poˈra.le/ | masculine |
Tempesta is a feminine noun used to describe a general storm or a disturbed state of the atmosphere that causes unpleasant weather. It can also be used metaphorically to describe periods of great emotional turmoil or social unrest.
Which one should you use?
While tempesta refers to a general storm, temporale is a masculine noun used specifically for a thunderstorm involving lightning and thunder. If the storm is characterized by extremely strong winds, often involving snow or heavy rain, use the feminine noun bufera. In a maritime context, particularly describing a heavy squall or a strong wind storm at sea, use the feminine noun burrasca.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the feminine noun tempesta is tempeste. The plural of the masculine noun temporale is temporali.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /temˈpɛs.ta/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word tempesta shares a root with the Latin tempestas, which originally meant 'the right time' or 'season' before evolving to mean 'bad weather'.
- Italian uses tempesta to describe a 'storm of applause' tempesta di applausi, whereas English speakers would more likely use 'thunderous'.
- In Italian opera and literature, a tempesta often serves as a structural device to mirror the internal psychological collapse of a character.
Examples in context
- La tempesta si placò.The storm abated.Tatoeba #3108673 by Guybrush88, translation #67429 by CM
- Ci sarà una tempesta.There is going to be a storm.Tatoeba #5577885 by Guybrush88, translation #325261 by CK
- Era una vera tempesta.That was some storm.Tatoeba #3159897 by Guybrush88, translation #42744 by CM
- Secondo le previsioni meteorologiche, una forte tempesta si avvicina alla città.According to the weather forecast, a strong storm is approaching the city.
- Dobbiamo stare attenti, c'è un temporale in arrivo!We need to be careful, there's a storm coming!
- Il temporale di ieri sera ha causato blackout in tutta la città.Last night's storm caused blackouts throughout the city.
- 148 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are looking out the window at a darkening sky.
- MatteoGuarda il cielo, Chiara, sembra una tempesta.Look at the sky, Chiara, it looks like a storm.
- ChiaraSì, Matteo, è molto scuro.Yes, Matteo, it is very dark.
- MatteoMeglio chiudere subito tutte le finestre.It's better to close all the windows immediately.
- ChiaraHai ragione, la tempesta arriverà presto.You are right, the storm will arrive soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “storm” translations and entries tempesta, bufera, burrasca, temporale, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
