dolcezza
/dolˈt͡ʃet.t͡sa/feminine
The English word "sweetness" is translated into Italian as dolcezza.
dolcezza refers to the condition of being sweet or sugary. Beyond literal sugar content, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe a person's gentle, kind or tender temperament.
Meaning: condition of being sweet or sugary (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed from the adjective dolce (sweet) plus the suffix -ezza, which is used to form abstract nouns from adjectives.
How does it change in a sentence?
dolcezza is a feminine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must also be in the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /dolˈtʃet.tsa/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word dolce shares a common ancestor with the English word 'dulcet', a sophisticated term used to describe pleasant sounds or music.
- In Italian, you can use dolcezza to compliment someone's personality, but if you call a person dolce directly, it can sometimes imply they are being a bit naive or overly soft.
- While dolcezza describes sweetness, the phrase la dolce vita became a global symbol of a hedonistic lifestyle after the 1960 film by Federico Fellini.
Examples in context
- Quelli che non hanno vissuto nel diciottesimo secolo prima della Rivoluzione non conoscono la dolcezza della vita.Those who haven't lived in the eighteenth century before the Revolution do not know the sweetness of life.This sentence illustrates the metaphorical use of dolcezza when referring to the sweetness of life.Tatoeba #987820 by riccioberto, translation #407025 by Scott
- La dolcezza del cioccolato mi fa felice.The sweetness of chocolate makes me happy.
- Apprezzo la tua gentilezza.I appreciate your sweetness/kindness.
- La sua amabilità mi ha conquistato.Her sweetness/amiability won me over.
- La dolcezza di questo miele è incredibile.The sweetness of this honey is incredible.
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are tasting a new dessert.
- ChiaraFrancesco, prova questo dolce!Francesco, try this dessert!
- FrancescoÈ buono, ma ha una dolcezza eccessiva.It's good, but it has an excessive sweetness.
- ChiaraDavvero? A me sembra perfetto.Really? It seems perfect to me.
- FrancescoPreferisco qualcosa di meno dolce.I prefer something less sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweetness” translations and entries dolcezza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dolcezza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
