Donut vs. ciambella vs. bombolone
While donut, ciambella, and bombolone all refer to sweet, fried pastries in Italian cuisine, they have distinct characteristics and uses.
Donut
B1Donut is an Anglicism used in Italian, referring to the American-style doughnut with a hole in the center.
Ho comprato un donut glassato per colazione.
(I bought a glazed donut for breakfast.)
I 'donut' americani sono diventati popolari anche in Italia.
(American donuts have become popular in Italy too.)
Ciambella
A2Ciambella is a traditional Italian ring-shaped pastry, which can be either savory or sweet, and is often baked rather than fried.
La nonna ha preparato una ciambella al limone per il tè.
(Grandma prepared a lemon ring cake for tea.)
Le ciambelle di patate sono un piatto tipico della cucina romana.
(Potato ciambelle are a typical dish in Roman cuisine.)
Bombolone
A2Bombolone is an Italian filled doughnut, typically round without a hole, and often filled with cream, chocolate, or jam.
Al bar ho ordinato un cappuccino e un bombolone alla crema.
(At the café, I ordered a cappuccino and a cream-filled bombolone.)
I bomboloni sono un dolce tipico della colazione italiana.
(Bomboloni are a typical Italian breakfast sweet.)
Summary
While donut refers to the American-style pastry with a hole, ciambella is a versatile Italian ring-shaped cake or pastry that can be sweet or savory, and bombolone is a filled Italian doughnut without a hole. Each has its unique place in Italian cuisine and culture.