bravo
/ˈbra.vo/
The Italian phrase for "good job" is bravo.
Bravo is used to praise someone for their efforts or a job well done. In many contexts, such as a performance, it is used as an exclamation to show approval.
Meaning: a phrase used to praise for a good job or efforts (intj)
Which one should you use?
While bravo is a standard way to offer praise, you may also encounter Ben fatto! to say well done or Grande! which literally means "great" and is used to show enthusiasm and appreciation for an accomplishment. You can also say Sei stato/a fantastico/a! to translate to "you were fantastic."
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of bravo changes depending on who you are praising: use brava for a single female, bravi for a group of people that is either all male or mixed gender and brave for a group consisting only of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbra.vo/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Historically, a bravo was a name for a hired assassin or a mercenary thug.
- The word 'brave' in English and 'bravo' in Italian may share a distant, mysterious history that links them to the idea of being 'raw' or 'uncooked'.
- In Italian, calling someone bravo can mean they are 'skilled' or 'talented', but it can also mean they are 'good' in a moral sense.
Examples in context
- Bravo, hai cucinato benissimo!Good job, you cooked very well!
- Bravo, hai vinto la partita.Good job, you won the match.
- Sei stato bravissimo, bravo!You were great, good job!
Example conversation
Lorenzo finished a difficult painting in his art class.
- ChiaraLorenzo, questo quadro è bellissimo!Lorenzo, this painting is beautiful!
- LorenzoGrazie, Chiara, ho lavorato molto.Thanks, Chiara, I worked a lot.
- ChiaraBravo, continua così!Good job, keep it up!
- LorenzoGrazie mille per il complimento.Thank you so much for the compliment.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bravo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bravo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
