Italian Phrase
È davvero terribile.
Meaning
Literally “It is really terrible.” The speaker is expressing a strong negative judgment about something, often a situation, event, or object that is unpleasant, shocking, or disappointing.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to emphasize how bad or shocking something is, whether you’re reacting to bad news, a poor performance, a disaster, or an unpleasant experience. It works in both informal and semi‑formal contexts, but tone of voice can make it sound more dramatic.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Èdavveroterribile
È (è)
Third‑person singular of the verb *essere* (to be) in the present indicative; used for statements of identity or description.
davvero
An adverb meaning “really, truly”; placed before the adjective it modifies.
terribile
An adjective meaning “terrible, awful”; agrees in gender and number with the subject (here masculine singular).
🗨In Conversation
Hai sentito del terremoto di ieri?
Did you hear about yesterday’s earthquake?
Sì, è davvero terribile.
Yes, it’s really terrible.
✕Common Mistakes
È davvero terrible.
Do not mix Italian and English; *terrible* should be *terribile*.
È davvero terribili.
The adjective must agree with the singular subject; *terribili* is plural.
E davvero terribile.
The verb *essere* needs the accent: *È* (it is), not *E* (and).
↔Alternatives
È veramente orribile.
It’s truly horrible.
È assolutamente spaventoso.
It’s absolutely frightening.
È davvero pessimo.
It’s really bad.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, strong adjectives like *terribile* are often softened with a smile or a softer tone when speaking to strangers to avoid sounding overly harsh. In the south of Italy, you might hear *che schifo!* (how disgusting!) as a more colloquial alternative. Remember that *terribile* can also be used positively in slang (e.g., “quel concerto è stato terribile!” meaning “that concert was amazing!”), so context determines whether it’s truly negative.