bella
/ˈbɛl.la/
bella is the Italian adjective for beautiful.
bella is used to describe someone or something that is beautiful.
Which one should you use?
Use bella specifically for feminine singular nouns. In contrast, bello is used for masculine singular nouns.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, so use bello for masculine nouns. The masculine plural form of the adjective is belli. The feminine plural form of the adjective is belle.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbɛl.la/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- If you see the phrase bella figura, it does not mean a 'beautiful figure' in the sense of a body shape, but rather making a good impression through your behavior and appearance.
- While bella describes beauty, adding the word bella to the phrase che bella! can be used sarcastically to mean 'what a mess' or 'how wonderful' in a mocking tone.
- The word bella is used in the phrase bella ciao, a famous partisans' song from World War II, where it serves as a bittersweet farewell to a loved one.
Examples in context
- Una bella giornataA beautiful day
- Che bella giornata oggi!What a beautiful day today!
- Questa è una bella idea.This is a beautiful idea.
- La tua nuova casa è molto bella.Your new house is very beautiful.
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are walking through a park in the city.
- MartinaGuarda quella bella fontana, Matteo!Look at that beautiful fountain, Matteo!
- MatteoSì, Martina, è davvero stupenda.Yes, Martina, it is truly wonderful.
- MartinaIl parco è un posto molto bello.The park is a very beautiful place.
- MatteoHai ragione, è una bella passeggiata.You are right, it is a beautiful walk.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bella, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
