zolfo
/ˈd͡zol.fo/masculine
The Italian word for sulfur is zolfo.
zolfo is a masculine noun referring to the chemical element sulfur.
Meaning: element (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sicilian dialect, sulfur is called sufru.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because zolfo begins with 'z', it is preceded by the masculine singular article lo (lo zolfo) instead of il.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈdzol.fo/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian culture, the word zolfo is often linked to the 'devil' and 'hell' because of the element's distinctive smell and association with volcanic activity.
- The word zolfo shares a linguistic ancestor with the Italian word zoccolo, meaning 'hoof'.
- Sicily was once one of the world's largest producers of zolfo, leading to a distinct social class of miners and a unique vocabulary surrounding the trade.
Examples in context
- Lo zolfo odora di uova marce.Sulfur smells like rotten eggs.This sentence shows how to describe the smell of zolfo.Tatoeba #11760287 by Guybrush88, translation #10140926 by DJ_Saidez
- Lo zolfo brucia con una fiamma blu.Sulfur burns with a blue flame.This sentence describes the appearance of zolfo when it burns.Tatoeba #1529421 by Guybrush88, translation #325501 by CM
- L'idrogeno, il carbonio, l'azoto, il fosforo, l'ossigeno, lo zolfo e il selenio sono dei non metalli.Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, sulfur and selenium are nonmetals.This sentence lists zolfo alongside other nonmetals.Tatoeba #1979251 by Guybrush88, translation #1555658 by Adelpa
- Il zolfo è un elemento chimico di numero atomico 16.Sulfur is a chemical element with atomic number 16.
- Sai dove posso trovare un sapone al solfo? Ho problemi di pelle.Do you know where I can find a sulfur soap? I have skin problems.
- Il profumo di zolfo pervadeva l'aria, come una dichiarazione inconfondibile.The smell of sulfur pervaded the air, like an unmistakable declaration.
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are looking at a mineral collection in a museum.
- ChiaraQuesto cristallo giallo è zolfo?Is this yellow crystal sulfur?
- AlessandroSì, è puro zolfo.Yes, it is pure sulfur.
- ChiaraÈ molto brillante, Alessandro.It is very bright, Alessandro.
- AlessandroSì, lo zolfo naturale è bellissimo.Yes, natural sulfur is beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sulfur” translations and entries zolfo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zolfo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
