tenebra
darkness
noun TEH-neh-brah Rare
Origin: Latin tenebrae (darkness, shadows).
Also means
gloom
Usage Note
Tenebra is almost always used in the plural — le tenebre — to mean deep darkness or shadowy gloom, both literal and figurative (le tenebre dell'ignoranza = 'the darkness of ignorance'). The singular tenebra is literary and rare. It is a more poetic word than buio (everyday 'dark').
Examples
"Le tenebre della notte avvolgevano la foresta."
Natural Translation
The darkness of night enveloped the forest.
Related Words
Explore Italian by topic