gufo

owl

noun GOO-foh Rare

Usage Note

Gufo refers to the eared owl (genus Asio); the barn owl is barbagianni and the little owl is civetta. Colloquially gufo also means a pessimist or jinx — someone who always predicts doom: non fare il gufo! (don't be such a pessimist!). The plural is regular: gufi.

Examples

"Il gufo ulula di notte nel bosco."

Natural Translation

The owl hoots at night in the woods.

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