Italian · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Wave (sea)" in Italian: onda
l'onda
A sea wave in Italian is l'onda (OHN-dah), feminine. Le onde alte means high waves. Un'onda lunga is a long wave.
Beach warning
Oggi l'onda è troppo alta.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce onda
Say it
OHN-dah
/ˈon.da/
Onda: OHN-dah. Soft n. L'onda elides. Plural onde.
"Wave (sea)" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'onda | the wave Sea wave. | Sea wave. |
| le onde | the waves Plural. | Plural. |
| onde alte | high waves Rough sea. | Rough sea. |
| cavalcare l'onda | to ride the wave Surf talk / metaphor. | Surf talk / metaphor. |
How to use onda in real life
- 1Beach warning
Oggi l'onda è troppo alta.
Today the wave is too high.
L'onda.
- 2Kids playing
Attento—arriva un'onda!
Careful—a wave is coming!
Un'onda.
- 3Surf report
Le onde sono buone al mattino.
The waves are good in the morning.
Le onde.
Mistakes English speakers make with onda
Incorrect: Il onda è forte.
Correct: L'onda è forte.
Feminine with elision: l'onda.
Incorrect: La wave è alta.
Correct: L'onda è alta.
Use onda.
Good to know
Coastal forecasts talk about moto ondoso and onde. Lifeguards whistle when l'onda grows. Hand-waving hello is fare cenno con la mano—not this sea noun.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Deciding whether to swim
ChatPal
Guarda l'onda: è calma?
Look at the wave: is it calm?
You
Quasi—c'è ancora un'onda lunga.
Almost—there's still a long wave.
ChatPal
Restiamo vicino: le onde salgono.
Let's stay close: the waves are rising.
You
Ok, solo fino a ginocchio.
Ok, only up to the knee.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Wave (sea)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Wave (sea)" in Italian
Wave?
L'onda.
Plural?
Le onde.
High waves?
Onde alte.
Gender?
Feminine.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
