bellissimo
The Italian phrase bellissimo means very beautiful.
bellissimo is an adjective used to describe something that is very beautiful. While you can also say molto bello to mean very beautiful, bellissimo is a single-word superlative that often carries a more emphatic or absolute tone in natural speech.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed by adding the superlative suffix -issimo to the adjective bello (beautiful), resulting in a literal meaning of beautiful + very.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use bellissima for a feminine singular noun, bellissimi for a masculine plural noun and bellissime for a feminine plural noun.
Did you know?
- While bellissimo is a positive term, using it with a sarcastic tone of voice is a common way for Italians to express that something is actually very ugly or terrible.
- The suffix -issimo can be attached to almost any adjective to create an extreme version, turning 'big' into grandissimo or 'small' into piccolissimo.
- When using bellissimo as an exclamation, Italians often lengthen the final vowel to convey genuine emotion, pronouncing it as bellissimoooo.
Examples in context
- Una piazza bellissimaA beautiful square
- Le piazze bellissimeThe beautiful squares
- Questo tramonto è bellissimo.This sunset is very beautiful.
- Hai fatto un lavoro bellissimo.You did a very beautiful job.
- Il panorama qui è bellissimo.The view here is very beautiful.
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are looking at a painting in an art gallery.
- GiuliaGuarda questo quadro, Alessandro.Look at this painting, Alessandro.
- AlessandroSì, è davvero bellissimo.Yes, it is truly beautiful.
- GiuliaMi piace molto il colore.I really like the color.
- AlessandroConcordo, è un capolavoro.I agree, it is a masterpiece.
