la vita è bella
The Italian phrase for "life is good" is la vita è bella.
This phrase is used to express satisfaction and happiness with one's current situation in life.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "the life is beautiful".
Which one should you use?
While English speakers typically use the word "good" to express this sentiment, Italians more commonly use the adjective bella (beautiful) to express the same feeling of satisfaction.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Italian, you must use the definite article la (the) before vita (life) when using this expression.
Did you know?
- The 2001 Academy Award-winning film La vita è bella used this exact phrase as its title to highlight the protagonist's attempt to create a beautiful world for his son within a concentration camp.
- In Italian culture, the concept of la bella vita (the beautiful life) often refers specifically to a life of luxury and leisure rather than just general happiness.
- The word vita shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'vital'. Both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to live'.
Examples in context
- La vita è bella perché non corrisponde sempre alle nostre aspettative!Life is good because it does not always correspond to our expectations!This sentence is useful for showing how the phrase relates to our expectations.Tatoeba #1751067 by Guybrush88, translation #1671685 by dimitris
- La vita è una figata! I giorni sono pieni di avventure!Life is awesome! The days are full of adventures!
- La vita è bella oggi.Life is good today.
- Con un buon caffè, la vita è bella.With a good coffee, life is good.
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are eating dinner together on a terrace.
- GiuliaGuarda che panorama, Francesco!Look at this view, Francesco!
- FrancescoHai ragione, Giulia. La vita è bella.You are right, Giulia. Life is good.
- GiuliaSì, sono davvero felice di essere qui.Yes, I am really happy to be here.
- FrancescoAnche io lo sono.I am too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bella, la, vita, è, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
