Compliments in Italian: A Guide to Saying Beautiful
It feels great to give and receive a compliment. And according to the science, getting a sincere, genuine, authentic compliment gives the same positive boost as receiving a cash reward.
Compliments work both ways. Saying something kind to someone instantly makes you feel good and put you in a better mood. With a sincere, thoughtful compliment, you can brighten someone’s day, boost their confidence, and give them the gift of feeling appreciated, happy, proud, elated, and special. And that’s one of the nicest things you can do.
Sometimes, though, giving compliments in a foreign language may feel a little awkward. You might not be sure of the right words to say, and worry about having your compliment misinterpreted. These seemingly positive interactions can actually be tricky to navigate for both giver and receiver alike.
This post is going to help you out. We’ll introduce you to different ways to form compliments in Italian, how to say something or someone is beautiful in Italian, and how to respond to compliments with grace and confidence.
Let’s get started!
How to say beautiful in Italian
Compliments and appreciations are used in all cultures, and they’re especially important in Italy. They can definitely spread good vibes, generate a positive feeling, and make you and others feel good.
There are many social situations that would go more smoothly when compliments are involved, from meeting a new acquaintance, making small talk, and strengthening your bond with someone, to making new friends, socializing in a new environment, and building, nurturing and enhancing relationships. Besides, sometimes you just really want to tell someone how good they look in their best outfits, dressed for a special occasion.
When done well, a good, kind, positivity-boosting compliment can be one of the most powerful ways to let someone know that you value and appreciate them. So, doling out compliments in Italian is a key conversational skill to have if you’re learning the Italian language.
It’s crucial, though, to remember that in Italian there’s a fine line between giving gentle compliments and being flirty. Essentially, flirting is about showing sexual interest or attraction to someone.
In this article, we’re going to focus on how to give genuine, sincere compliments that should come with no strings attached, and with no ulterior motives in mind. (Maybe we’ll dedicate a whole other lesson to flirting in Italian.)
How to say you are beautiful in Italian
Who doesn’t like being told they look nice? People like being complimented. As mentioned previously, these compliments may come across as flirtatious, so they should be avoided in formal and strictly professional contexts.
How to say that something is beautiful in Italian
Want to comment on the beauty of something? Use the following beautiful sentences. Read through the list, and pronounce every phrase out loud to practice your pronunciation.
How to compliment someone on their work in Italian
Knowing how to compliment and recognize others is a fundamental skill to have at work. Complimenting your coworkers, collaborators, or employees when they’ve done well can actually boost their performance.
We’ve gathered useful phrases and expressions below to help you form your own compliments.
How to compliment someone on their appearance or clothing in Italian
Commenting on someone’s appearance is appropriate when you’re talking to someone you know well, like very close friends, family members, and long-time work colleagues. If your bestie has just gotten her hair done, or is wearing a new dress that flatters her curves, go ahead and make sure she knows how fabulous she looks.
However, avoid appearance-related comments with casual acquaintances, coworkers, clients, customers, and strangers. in case it makes them feel uncomfortable.
How to compliment someone on their personality or lifestyle in Italian
People love to be appreciated for who they are as much as for how they look. The phrases below show that you appreciate and admire their personal qualities, abilities, intelligence, humor, and creativity.
Use them to let someone know you like them without making it entirely about their physical appearance. They’ll appreciate it. Check out the examples below!
How to compliment someone on something they have
Complimenting someone on a nice possession is a very good way to make small talk. Most Italians are extremely proud of their possessions, especially major ones such as their house, car, or motorbike, so they’ll appreciate it.
I personally am overjoyed every time I receive compliments on the cleanliness and decor of my home. Yep – in this case the stereotype is true: women in Italy like to keep their houses spotless and immaculately clean, and take great pride in the appearance of their abodes. It’s part of the whole bella figura thing.
Let’s check out the examples we’ve gathered for you below to find out how to compliment someone on their possessions.
How to respond to compliments in Italian
Italian children are socialized from a very young age to say “thank you” to a compliment, but Italian adult speakers, especially women, tend to respond to compliments with embarrassment, discomfort, or even self-deprecation, probably because they’re afraid of seeming arrogant or big-headed, and want to sound humble and modest.
Don’t devalue or reject a compliment! Respect the opinion of the person who gave you the praise. After receiving a compliment, smile genuinely, make eye contact, and say something in order to show your appreciation and gratitude for the kind remark.
This confident attitude will help reduce the chances of awkwardness that in turn, may make the compliment giver feel uncomfortable. We’ve gathered some of the most common phrases to say in response to a compliment in the table below.
The do’s and don’ts of complimenting someone in Italian
As mentioned previously, compliments can be complicated. They can hit the mark, or fail miserably. They have the power to turn someone’s day around in an instant, but there’s a lot to bear in mind. So, we’re inviting you to join us on a deep dive into the world of Italian compliment etiquette.
1. First of all, it’s inappropriate to compliment someone when:
- You’re a complete stranger on the train, on the street, waiting for the bus, or standing in the grocery checkout line, especially if you’re with a group of people and the other person is by themselves.
- You’re a grown adult and the other person is a lot younger than you, or vice versa.
- You’re in a position of power over the other person. For example, if you’re their professor, boss, coach, tutor, or mentor, it’s better to avoid complimenting their looks even in a completely innocent way, as it may come across as inappropriate.
2. Never, ever, add a non-compliment to a compliment.
Let’s look at some examples:
- “Sei molto bella, per essere così alta” (You are very beautiful, for being so tall).
- “Sei davvero simpatica, per essere così timida” (You’re really nice, for being so shy).
- “Hai una bellissima casa, per essere così piccola” (You have a beautiful house, for being so small).
I’m pretty sure these examples speak for themselves. As you can see, any compliment that you tack on the phrase “per essere/avere…” is actually not a compliment but a subtle insult, and a form of sexism, body-shaming, and discrimination.
Always consider how you’d feel receiving a compliment before saying it to someone else.
Then, if you want to compliment how someone looks now, don’t implicitly say they don’t look good on other days. Simply say “stai benissimo” (you look good), full stop. There’s no need to add “più del solito” (more than usual).
Or even worse, “Come sei bella, sembri davvero una donna stasera” (How beautiful you are, you actually look like a woman tonight) on the rare occasion when someone wears a skirt or minidress.
And, please, I beg you, don’t ever say something like “Come stai bene, non sembri neanche tu” (you look great, you don’t even look like yourself). Hashtag facepalm.
In the end, it all comes down to being respectful.
Complimenti for making it to the end of this post!
Congratulazioni, your Italian is improving day by day! With some practice, you’ll become a pro at complimenting, and expressing someone is beautiful in Italian in a way they’ll truly, truly appreciate.
Start complimenting in Italian, spread happiness around you, and find out for yourself how great it makes you feel!
If you enjoyed this article, check out our Italian blog, full of more fun and free Italian vocabulary lessons.
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Alla prossima!
