Meaning
darkness, gloom
In a sentence
La luna piena brillava nelle tenebre della notte.
The full moon shone in the darkness of the night.
Le tenebre scesero rapidamente sulla vallata.
Darkness fell quickly over the valley.
I fari dell'auto squarciarono le tenebre.
The car's headlights pierced the darkness.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| tenebra | feminine · singular |
| tenebre | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Usually literary or elevated. In everyday speech, Italians more often say buio for physical darkness.
- Often appears in the plural, tenebre, especially in fixed expressions and poetic style.
- Prefer ombra for shade or a shadow; tenebra suggests deep darkness, mystery, or a solemn tone.