bello
/ˈbɛl.lo/
The Italian adjective bello means beautiful or handsome.
bello is used to describe someone or something that is physically attractive or pleasing to look at. It is often used as an exclamation, Che bello!, to express delight or enthusiasm regarding a situation or a piece of news, meaning "How beautiful!" or "How lovely!"
Which one should you use?
While bello refers to physical attractiveness, do not confuse it with buono, which refers to being good in terms of moral character or the taste of food.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective changes to match the gender and number of the noun it describes. Use bella for a feminine singular noun, bello for a masculine singular noun, belli for a masculine plural or mixed-gender group and belle for a feminine plural group. Additionally, when placed before a masculine singular noun starting with a vowel, the final -o is often dropped and replaced by an apostrophe, resulting in bell'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ˈbɛl.lo/. The stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, bello can be used to emphasize an adjective of intensity, such as un bello freddo to mean 'a biting cold'. In this context, it does not mean the cold is attractive, but rather that it is significant or extreme.
- The phrase fare il bello describes someone who behaves as if they are above the rules or acts like a 'big shot'. It literally translates to 'making oneself the beautiful one'.
- Among young people and in certain regional dialects, Bella! is used as a very informal shorthand greeting meaning 'Hi!' or 'Hey!'
Examples in context
- La città è molto bella.The city is very beautiful.
- È stata una serata bellissima.It was a beautiful evening.
- Il tuo abito da sposa è davvero bello.Your wedding dress is truly beautiful.
- Ti sei divertito alla festa? – Sì, è stata una serata molto bella!Did you enjoy the party? – Yes, it was a very nice evening!
- Mi piace molto la tua nuova macchina. È bellissima!I really like your new car. It's beautiful!
- Hai un bello sorriso.You have a beautiful smile.
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are looking at a photo in a magazine.
- FrancescoGuarda questo attore, è davvero bello.Look at this actor, he is truly handsome.
- ChiaraSì, ha un viso molto bello.Yes, he has a very beautiful face.
- FrancescoAnche il suo stile è bello.His style is also beautiful.
- ChiaraConcordo, è molto elegante.I agree, he is very elegant.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bello, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
