scoppiò

Scoppiò is the third-person singular form of the Italian verb scoppiare in the passato remoto, a past tense commonly used in literary or formal historical narration. The verb scoppiare means to explode, to burst, or to break out. It can describe a literal explosion, such as a bomb or a firework, as well as the sudden outbreak of events, conflicts, or emotions.

In its broad sense, scoppiò is used for actions regarded as completed in the past. For example, La guerra scoppiò nel 1914 describes the outbreak of war in a historical timeline. The verb can also convey non-literal bursts, such as a crowd breaking into chaos or a crowd erupting in cheers. Additionally, scoppiare has an idiomatic extension to expressions like scoppiare a ridere or scoppiare in lacrime, meaning to burst into laughter or into tears.

Usage and register: scoppiò appears primarily in written Italian, including historical accounts, literature, and formal reporting. In everyday speech, speakers more commonly use the passato prossimo form è scoppiato per describe past events, especially in informal contexts. The distinction between passato remoto and passato prossimo reflects regional and stylistic preferences rather than a change in meaning.

Etymology and related forms: the form scoppiò derives from the verb scoppiare, which itself centers on the concept of a burst or explosion, built on the noun scoppio (explosion). Related senses extend to metaphorical outbursts and sudden occurrences in time.

See also: scoppiare, passato remoto, passato prossimo, scoppiare a ridere, scoppiare in lacrime.