come stai bella
In Italian, "how are you beautiful" is said as come stai bella.
This phrase is a friendly greeting used to ask how a woman is doing while complimenting her appearance.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of come (how), stai (you are/stay) and bella (beautiful).
Which one should you use?
You can also use Come stai, bellissima? for an informal version. To specifically ask how someone feels, you can use Come ti senti, bellissima? informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase when addressing a man, change the feminine bella to the masculine bello.
Did you know?
- While it sounds like a sweet compliment, using bella with a stranger in Italy can sometimes be perceived as 'galante', a term for being a bit too forward or a 'charmer' in a way that might feel slightly old-fashioned or cliché.
- The word stai comes from the verb stare, which means 'to stay' or 'to stand' rather than 'to be'. In Italian, you are not literally asking how someone 'is', but rather how they are 'staying' or 'remaining' in a state of being.
- In Italian, calling someone bella can occasionally be used sarcastically to point out that someone is being naive or foolish.
Example conversation
Lorenzo meets Sofia at a cafe.
- LorenzoCiao Sofia, come stai bella?Hi Sofia, how are you beautiful?
- SofiaSto bene, grazie Lorenzo!I'm doing well, thanks Lorenzo!
- LorenzoSei sempre in splendida forma.You are always in great shape.
- SofiaSei troppo gentile!You are too kind!
