sfumatura
nuance, shade
noun sfoo-mah-TOO-rah Rare
Origin: From sfumare (to shade off), related to fumo (smoke).
Also means
tint, hue
Usage Note
Sfumatura comes from the art technique sfumato (used famously by Leonardo da Vinci) and refers to a subtle gradation of color, tone, or meaning. In non-artistic contexts it means a nuance or subtle distinction (le sfumature del linguaggio = the nuances of language). The plural is sfumature. It is a high-register word in both visual arts and linguistics.
Examples
"Questo tessuto ha belle sfumature di blu."
Natural Translation
This fabric has beautiful shades of blue.
Related Words
Explore Italian by topic
ItalianNow
5 min read