tuonare

to thunder

verb twoh-NAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin 'tonare', to thunder.

Also means

to roar

Usage Note

Tuonare is used both impersonally for the weather (tuona — it is thundering) and figuratively for a person who shouts or speaks with great force: il ministro tuonò contro la corruzione (the minister thundered against corruption). As a weather verb it takes no subject or the impersonal si; figurative uses take avere.

Examples

"Tuona forte e si avvicina il temporale."

Natural Translation

It is thundering loudly and the storm is approaching.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Dialects vs Standard Italian: A Guide

Standard Italian works everywhere, so relax: this three-layer guide to Italian dialects vs standard Italian shows what to ignore and what to notice.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Avere Fame: Why Italians "Have" Hunger, Not "Are"

In Italian you say Ho fame (I have hunger), never sono fame. Learn the avere + noun rule for fame, freddo, paura, age, and the sono caldo trap to avoid.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Numbers 1 to 100: Count Like a Local

Learn Italian numbers 1 to 100 by mastering 0-20, the tens, and 3 spelling rules so you can generate any number from ventuno to novantanove on demand.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read