Meaning
candle
- spark plug
- candela (SI unit)
- chandelle (aerobatic manoeuvre)
In a sentence
Ho acceso una candela perché mancava la luce.
I lit a candle because the power was out.
Quante candele mettiamo sulla torta di Luca?
How many candles are we putting on Luca's cake?
A cena abbiamo acceso una candela profumata.
At dinner we lit a scented candle.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| candela | feminine · singular |
| candele | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For a wax candle, use candela. For a spark plug, say candela d'accensione, not just candela in many contexts.
- The SI unit candela is feminine too: una candela, due candele. In technical writing, the symbol is cd, unchanged.
- Col naso che cola, candela is informal slang for nasal mucus; avoid it in formal or medical contexts.