bella donna
/ˈbɛl.la ˈdɔn.na/word by word
The English phrase "pretty lady" is translated into Italian as bella donna.
bella donna is used to describe a woman who is physically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective bella (beautiful) and the noun donna (woman).
Which one should you use?
The plural form of bella donna is belle donne.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbɛl.la ˈdɔn.na/. The phrase has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistake bella donna for a single word, but it is a noun phrase consisting of an adjective and a noun.
Did you know?
- The English word 'belladonna' for the deadly nightshade plant comes from bella donna. In the past, women used drops of the plant's extract to dilate their pupils, which was considered a sign of beauty.
- The word donna shares its roots with the English word 'domain' or 'domestic', as both stem from the Latin word for 'home'.
- While bella donna is a literal description, calling a stranger bella in Italy can be perceived as overly flirtatious or aggressive depending on the city and social context.
Examples in context
- Bella signora, il suo abito è davvero meraviglioso!Beautiful lady, your dress is truly marvelous!
- È una bella donna, vero?She is a pretty lady, right?
- Ho visto una bella donna al parco.I saw a pretty lady at the park.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are walking through a city square.
- LorenzoGuarda quella bella donna!Look at that pretty lady!
- ChiaraSì, è molto elegante.Yes, she is very elegant.
- LorenzoHai ragione, Chiara.You are right, Chiara.
- ChiaraAndiamo a prendere un caffè?Shall we go get a coffee?
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bella, donna) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bella, donna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
