carbone

coal, carbon

noun kar-BOH-neh Rare

Origin: From Latin carbo, carbonis, 'coal, charcoal'.

Also means

charcoal

Usage Note

Carbone is masculine. Il carbone refers to coal (the fuel) or charcoal (for drawing or grilling). The chemistry term 'carbon' is il carbonio — learners should distinguish the two. The idiom essere come il carbone does not exist; the relevant phrase is nero come il carbone ('black as coal').

Examples

"La centrale elettrica funziona ancora a carbone."

Natural Translation

The power station still runs on coal.

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