Buono, bravo, bello, bene: Italian grammar lesson 33

Words that mean “good” and “well” in Italian: Buono, bravo, bello, and bene

Buono, bravo, bello and bene are very common Italian words.

They are relatively simple to understand, but their correct use can be somewhat confusing for Italian learners because they sound similar (and all start with the letter “b”!).

They can sometimes all be translated with the word “good” or “well” in English.

First of all, from a grammatical point of view, there is the first distinction: buono, bravo, and bello are adjectives (and their forms change according to the noun they are paired with or refer to), while bene is an adverb and its form is therefore invariable.

How to use BENE

Let’s start with bene. Bene is an adverb of manner and it’s always used with a verb.

Adverbs of manners describe how or in which way an action is performed or takes place.

• Bene is used to indicate that the action is performed satisfactorily, properly, or correctly. The opposite of bene is male.

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Let’s look at a few examples with bene:

Lucia canta molto bene.

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Lucia sings very well.

Stai bene oggi?

Do you feel well today?

How to use BUONO

Buono is an adjective and always refers to a noun. It must be declined according to the noun’s grammatical gender and number.

It is declined as follows:

Note: when buono immediately precedes a masculine singular noun, the contracted form buon is used instead.

• When buono refers to people, it describes that someone is a good person, usually meaning they are nice, kind, friendly, or selfless.

• When buono refers to objects, it usually describes goodness, quality, or flavor.

How to use BRAVO

Bravo is an adjective and always refers to a noun. It always refers to people or living beings, not objects.

It must be declined according to the noun’s grammatical gender and number.

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It is declined as follows:

• Bravo only refers to people and living beings. It expresses a positive judgment about someone’s talent or skills.

• Bravo can also mean that someone is polite and behaves properly (has good manners)

How to use BELLO

Bello (beautiful) is an adjective and always refers to a noun. It must be declined according to the noun’s grammatical gender and number.

It is declined as follows:

Note: when bello immediately precedes a masculine singular noun, the contracted form bel or bell’ (for nouns starting with vowels) is used instead.

• When bello refers to people, it describes someone handsome or beautiful.

• When bello refers to objects, it usually expresses a positive judgment on their aspect and aesthetics.

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