bella donna
/ˈbɛl.la ˈdɔn.na/word by word
The English phrase "pretty woman" is translated into Italian as bella donna.
bella donna is used to describe a woman who is physically attractive. While it translates to "pretty woman," it often carries a stronger connotation of "beautiful woman" in Italian.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective bella (beautiful) and the noun donna (woman).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of bella donna is belle donne.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of bella donna is /ˈbɛl.la ˈdɔn.na/. It has 4 syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use bella donna to mean "pretty girl," but donna specifically refers to an adult woman. For a girl, you should use bella ragazza instead.
When do people say it?
In Italian, bella donna can also refer to the belladonna plant (deadly nightshade), though this is often spelled as one word in botanical contexts.
Did you know?
- Historically, women used extracts from the bella donna plant as eye drops to dilate their pupils, which was considered a sign of beauty and attraction.
- The word donna comes from the Latin domina, which meant 'mistress of an estate or household'.
- While bella means 'beautiful', it is frequently used in Italian as a filler word in expressions like bella figura, which refers to keeping up public appearances.
Examples in context
- Lei è una bella donna.She's a pretty woman.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase bella donna.Tatoeba #3485543 by Guybrush88, translation #7705833 by deniko
- Mary è una bella donna.Mary is a pretty woman.Tatoeba #2602388 by Guybrush88, translation #7733614 by CK
- Sua figlia è diventata una bella donna.His daughter has become a pretty woman.Tatoeba #627777 by Guybrush88, translation #582953 by fliegster
- Buongiorno, bella donna! Come sta oggi?Good morning, beautiful woman! How are you today?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are talking about a famous actress at a film festival.
- SofiaHai visto l'attrice protagonista?Did you see the lead actress?
- MatteoSì, è davvero una bella donna.Yes, she is a truly pretty woman.
- SofiaÈ molto elegante in quel vestito.She is very elegant in that dress.
- MatteoHai ragione, Sofia.You are right, Sofia.
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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
