questo è buono
The English phrase "this is good" can be translated into Italian as questo è buono.
The phrase is typically used to say that something, most commonly food or drink, has a pleasant taste. While buono can refer to being good in a moral sense, in the context of eating or drinking, it specifically refers to how pleasant something tastes.
Which one should you use?
While questo è buono is the standard way to say "this is good", you might use Questo va bene for an informal way to express the same sentiment. If you want to emphasize that something is of high quality, you can use Questa cosa è di buona qualità.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on the gender and number of the object you are praising. If the object is a feminine noun, such as la pizza, you use questa è buona. If you are referring to multiple feminine objects, such as le mele, the phrase becomes queste sono buone.
Did you know?
- When using the word to describe a person, calling a man buono can sometimes imply he is 'naive' or 'too easy to trick'. It suggests a lack of cunning rather than just being a saint.
- In Italy, praising a dish as buono is often accompanied by a gesture of bringing the fingertips together and kissing them, known as 'the chef's kiss'.
- Italian has a 'doublet' for the word buono, meaning the English word 'bonus' is actually a later borrowing of the same Latin root.
Examples in context
- Nulla di questo è buono.None of this is good.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase questo è buono in a negative context.Tatoeba #5084929 by Guybrush88, translation #1494826 by Spamster
- Questo è buono.This is good.This sentence is a direct example of using questo è buono.Tatoeba #5335533 by Guybrush88, translation #2233688 by CK
- Questo è molto buonoThis is very good
- Questo piatto è deliziosoThis dish is delicious
- Questo è buono, davvero!This is good, really!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are tasting a new pasta dish.
- SofiaProva questo piatto.Try this dish.
- LorenzoHai ragione, questo è buono.You are right, this is good.
- SofiaTi piace il condimento?Do you like the sauce?
- LorenzoSì, è perfetto.Yes, it is perfect.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buono, questo, è, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
