tempestoso
/tem.pesˈto.zo/
The Italian word for stormy is tempestoso.
Tempestoso is used to describe weather that is stormy or tempestuous, involving conditions such as strong winds, rough seas or heavy rain. It can also be used figuratively to describe intense emotions or heated arguments, such as a rapporto tempestoso (a stormy relationship).
Meaning: of or pertaining to storms, strong winds, rough seas, heavy rain etc. (adj)
Which one should you use?
While tempestoso describes both literal stormy weather and figurative storms of emotion or argument, another formal term, inclemente, is used specifically to describe harsh or severe weather conditions.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, tempestoso must agree with the noun it describes. Use tempestosa for feminine singular nouns like pioggia (rain), tempestosi for masculine plural nouns like venti (winds) and tempestose for feminine plural nouns like onde (waves).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /tem.pesˈto.zo/.
Did you know?
- When using tempestoso to describe a crowd, it implies the group is not just loud, but potentially on the verge of rioting or erupting in violence.
- In Italian folklore, a tempesta di neve (snowstorm) is sometimes associated with the 'Bora', a fierce wind that can make coastal weather extremely tempestoso.
- The suffix -oso in tempestoso functions similarly to the English suffix '-ous', turning a noun into an adjective that describes being full of a certain quality.
Examples in context
- Il tempo è tempestoso.It's stormy.This sentence is useful for describing the current weather using tempestoso.Tatoeba #4089710 by Guybrush88, translation #278884 by CK
- Che tempo burrascoso oggi! Meglio rimanere al chiuso!What stormy weather today! It's better to stay indoors!
- Il mare è molto tempestoso oggi.The sea is very stormy today.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are looking at the weather forecast.
- MartinaGuarda il cielo, sembra un pomeriggio tempestoso.Look at the sky, it looks like a stormy afternoon.
- AlessandroSì, forse dovremmo restare a casa.Yes, maybe we should stay home.
- MartinaHai ragione, sta iniziando a piovere.You're right, it's starting to rain.
- AlessandroChiudiamo subito tutte le finestre.Let's close all the windows right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stormy” translations and entries tempestoso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tempestoso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
