What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the verb benedire (to bless), which combines bene (well) and dicere (to say).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form benedizioni is used for both the religious concept of divine favor and the metaphorical concept of good fortune. The singular form of the noun is benedizione.
When do people say it?
When expressing well-wishes or looking for luck in Italian, there are several common expressions. For luck, one might say In bocca al lupo! (literally 'into the wolf's mouth'), to which the expected response is Crepi il lupo! ('May the wolf die!'). Other ways to offer kind wishes include Che il sole sempre risplenda sulla tua strada ('May the sun always shine on your path') and Ti auguro un mare di felicità ('I wish you an ocean of happiness').
Did you know?
- While benedizioni are positive, Italian has a mirrored word, maledizioni, which means 'curses' and follows the exact same structure by replacing bene with male.
- In Italian culture, a benedizione is often physically manifested through the sign of the cross, and it is common for children to ask for a benedizione from elders before a long journey.
- The word benedizione is used in the phrase una benedizione, which can be used sarcastically to describe something that was supposed to be a blessing but turned into a burden.
Examples in context
- Pratica la gratitudine riflettendo sulle piccole benedizioni della tua vita.Practice gratitude by reflecting on the small blessings in your life.This sentence shows how to use benedizioni when discussing gratitude for positive aspects of life.Tatoeba #12124942 by Nuel, translation #12124940 by Nuel
- Rifletti sulle tue benedizioni presenti – di cui ogni uomo ne ha molte – non sulle disgrazie del passato, di cui tutti gli uomini ne hanno un po'.Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.This sentence uses benedizioni to contrast present good fortune with past misfortunes.Tatoeba #3107083 by Guybrush88, translation #410274 by Scott
- "Stai bene?" "Starò bene. (Cioè, una volta che vedrò un cardiologo. Penso che il mio cuore si sia fermato.)" "Allora devi andare in tribunale! Vai con molte benedizioni!""Are you alright?" "I'll be fine. (That is, once I see a cardiologist. I think my heart stopped.)" "Then you must go to the courthouse! Go with many blessings!"This sentence demonstrates the use of benedizioni as a well-wish in a conversational context.Tatoeba #3743951 by Guybrush88, translation #3224417 by Ooneykcall
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are talking about a family member's recovery.
- ChiaraHo chiesto molte benedizioni per tua nonna.I asked for many blessings for your grandmother.
- FrancescoGrazie Chiara, apprezzo molto il tuo pensiero.Thank you Chiara, I really appreciate your thought.
- ChiaraSpero che queste benedizioni le diano forza.I hope these blessings give her strength.
- FrancescoSpero anche io, grazie di cuore.I hope so too, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
