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
'Donut' 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
'Ciambella' 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
'Bombolone' 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.