Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bestia | /ˈbes.tja/ (Tuscany) /ˈbɛs.tja/ |
feminine |
| belva | /ˈbel.va/ /ˈbɛl.va/ |
feminine |
The term refers to a non-human animal. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe a person who exhibits cruel, brutal or savage behavior. When you want to refer to legendary beasts found in mythology or fantasy, the term mostro is more common. If you wish to describe someone as being wild, uninhibited or acting on primal instincts in a colloquial way, you might use animale.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean beast, they are used in different contexts. bestia is the most common term and is often used metaphorically to describe a person's cruel behavior. In contrast, belva emphasizes the wild, predatory or savage nature of an animal and is typically found in literary or descriptive contexts. belva can also be used to describe a person possessing exceptional strength, power or fierceness.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both bestia and belva are feminine nouns, so they must be preceded by feminine articles such as la or una.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈbes.tja/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- Calling someone una bestia in a modern colloquial context can actually be a compliment, implying they are incredibly skilled or powerful at a specific activity.
- The word bestia is an unexpected relative of the Italian word biscia, which means 'snake'.
- While belva describes a predatory animal, it is often used in Italian opera and classical poetry to symbolize untamable passion or raw desire.
Examples in context
- L'uomo è una bestia.Man is a beast.This sentence illustrates the metaphorical use of bestia regarding human nature.Tatoeba #11575211 by Nuel, translation #11575210 by Nuel
- La gelosia è una brutta bestia.Jealousy is an ugly beast.This sentence shows how bestia can be used to describe an abstract concept like jealousy.Tatoeba #3611292 by Guybrush88, translation #5740673 by CM
- La bestia iniziò ad aggredirlo.The beast began to attack him.This sentence provides an example of using bestia to describe a physical animal.Tatoeba #11796443 by Nuel, translation #11796442 by Nuel
- Il leone è una bestia maestosa.The lion is a majestic beast.
- La tigre è una bestia selvaggia.The tiger is a wild beast.
- "Quella bestia" si riferisce al mio cane."That beast" refers to my dog.
- Il drago è un mostro mitologico.The dragon is a mythical beast.
- Il basilisco è considerato un mostro terribile.The basilisk is considered a terrifying beast.
- Sei una vera bestia!You are such a beast!
- Quel calciatore è una belva in campoThat footballer is a beast on the field
- Che serata, siamo stati degli animali!What a night, we were like beasts!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are watching a nature documentary.
- GiuliaGuarda quella bestia nel bosco.Look at that beast in the woods.
- FrancescoÈ una bestia davvero enorme, Giulia.It is a truly huge beast, Giulia.
- GiuliaSembra molto pericolosa.It looks very dangerous.
- FrancescoSì, è una bestia selvaggia.Yes, it is a wild beast.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beast” translations and entries bestia, belva, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries belva, bestia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
