Meaning
gruff, surly
- gruff, brusque, or surly in manner, often despite having a good heart
- stern or harsh in appearance or tone
In a sentence
Sembra un uomo burbero, ma aiuta sempre chiunque sia in difficoltà.
He seems like a gruff man, but he always helps anyone in trouble.
Perché rispondi sempre con questo tono burbero?
Why do you always reply in this surly tone?
Il professore non era affatto burbero come dicevano gli altri studenti.
The professor wasn't at all gruff like the other students said.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| burbero | masculine · singular |
| burbera | feminine · singular |
| burberi | masculine · plural |
| burbere | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Often used in the phrase 'burbero ma buono' (gruff outside but good-hearted).