pessimista
/pes.siˈmis.ta/feminine, masculine
The English word "pessimist" is translated into Italian as pessimista.
The term pessimista is a noun used to describe someone who habitually expects the worst outcome.
Meaning: someone who habitually expects the worst outcome (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word pessimista is the direct antonym of ottimista (optimist). Both words follow the same grammatical pattern of having identical masculine and feminine forms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun pessimista is epicene, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine subjects. To form the masculine plural, change the final -a to -i: pessimisti. To form the feminine plural, change the final -a to -e: pessimiste.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables and the stress is on the third syllable: /pes.siˈmis.ta/.
Did you know?
- In casual Italian conversation, calling someone a pessimista is often met with the playful retort non fare il gufo, which means 'don't be the owl'.
- The word gufo (owl) is used as a synonym for a pessimist because in Italian culture, the owl is seen as a bringer of bad luck or a jinx.
- The Italian language uses the same root for pessimista as it does for pessimo, which means 'the worst' or 'abysmal'.
Examples in context
- Perché è così pessimista?Why are you such a pessimist?This example is useful for asking why someone is being a pessimista.Tatoeba #10206596 by Guybrush88, translation #10184133 by ddnktr
- Non sia un tale pessimista.Don't be such a pessimist.This example is useful for telling someone not to be such a pessimista.Tatoeba #5119241 by Guybrush88, translation #2275177 by CK
- L'ottimista guarda in uno specchio e diventa più ottimista, il pessimista diventa più pessimista.The optimist looks into a mirror and becomes more optimistic, the pessimist more pessimistic.This example contrasts the behavior of an optimist with that of a pessimista.Tatoeba #1623227 by Guybrush88, translation #21262 by CK
- Luca è un pesimista. Vede sempre il lato negativo delle cose.Luca is a pessimist. He always sees the negative side of things.
- Marco è una persona pessimista per natura.Marco is a pessimistic person by nature.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Giulia are discussing their plans for a weekend trip despite the cloudy weather.
- AlessandroSecondo me pioverà tutto il weekend.In my opinion, it will rain all weekend.
- GiuliaAlessandro, non fare il pessimista!Alessandro, don't be a pessimist!
- AlessandroDico solo che il cielo è molto scuro.I'm just saying the sky is very dark.
- GiuliaSei proprio un pessimista oggi.You are being quite a pessimist today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pessimist” translations and entries pessimista, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
