nessun dorma – English Lyrics

• By: Pavarotti

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the powerful emotions and rich history behind “Nessun Dorma,” an aria celebrated worldwide and immortalized by Luciano Pavarotti. Learn Italian through the soaring vocals and dramatic narrative of this operatic masterpiece, exploring themes of love, hope, and triumph that resonate across cultures and generations. This aria offers a unique window into Italian language and culture, perfect for language enthusiasts and music lovers alike.

[English]

Nessun dorma

Nessun dorma

Tu pure, o Principessa

Nella tua fredda stanza

Guardi le stelle che tremano

D'amore e di speranza

Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me

Il nome mio nessun saprà

No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò

Quando la luce splenderà

...

Ed il mio bacio scioglierà

Il silenzio che ti fa mia

(Il nome suo nessun saprà)

(E noi dovremo, ahimè, morir, morir)

Dilegua o notte

Tramontate stelle

Tramontate stelle

All'alba vincerò

Vincerò, vincerò

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dormire /dɔrˈmiːre/ A2	verb - to sleep
stella /ˈstɛlla/ A2	noun - star
principessa /prin.tʃiˈpɛs.sa/ B1	noun - princess
fredda /ˈfrɛd:da/ B1	adjective - cold
stanza /ˈstantsa/ A2	noun - room, chamber
stelle /ˈstɛllɛ/ A2	noun - stars
amore /aˈmoː.re/ A1	noun - love
speranza /sperˈan.tsa/ B2	noun - hope
mistero /misˈtɛːro/ B2	noun - mystery
nome /ˈno.me/ A1	noun - name
saprò /saˈprɔ/ B1	verb (future tense) - I will know
splendore /splɛnˈdɔː.re/ B2	noun - splendor, brightness
bacio /ˈbat.tʃo/ A2	noun - kiss
silenzio /siˈlen.t͡sjo/ A2	noun - silence

Key Grammar Structures

• Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me

  ➔ Present tense verb 'è' (is) indicating a state or condition

  ➔ The verb 'è' (is) links the subject 'Il mio mistero' (my secret) to the predicate, describing its state.

• Nessun dorma

  ➔ Imperative or subjunctive mood implied as a command or wish

  ➔ Though literally meaning 'No one sleeps', it is often used as an imperative to evoke a mood of anticipation.

• Tramontate stelle

  ➔ Imperative form of 'tramontare' (to set, to go down), giving a command or wish

  ➔ The phrase is in the imperative mood, urging the stars to set or disappear.

• All'alba vincerò

  ➔ Futur simple tense 'vincerò' (I will win), expressing a future plan or promise

  ➔ 'Vincerò' is in the future tense, indicating a resolve to succeed after a certain time.

• Dilegua o notte

  ➔ Imperative form of 'dileguare' (to fade, vanish) combined with 'o notte' (O night), expressing a command or desire

  ➔ 'Dilegua' is an imperative command meaning 'fade away', addressed to the night.