Italian Phrase
È una frase davvero brutta.
Meaning
Literally, 'It is a really ugly sentence.' The speaker is judging the quality or style of a sentence, indicating that it sounds awkward, poorly constructed, or unpleasant to read or hear.
When to use
Use this expression when you want to comment negatively on a specific sentence—perhaps in a writing workshop, while proofreading, or in casual conversation about a poorly phrased statement.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Èunafrasedavverobrutta
È (essere)
Third‑person singular present of the verb 'essere' meaning 'is'.
una (indefinite article)
Feminine singular indefinite article, used before a feminine noun.
frase (noun)
Feminine singular noun meaning 'sentence' or 'phrase'.
davvero (adverb)
Adverb meaning 'really' or 'truly', used to intensify the adjective.
brutta (adjective)
Feminine singular form of 'brutto', meaning 'ugly' or 'bad', agrees with 'frase'.
🗨In Conversation
Che ne pensi di questo paragrafo?
What do you think of this paragraph?
È una frase davvero brutta.
It's a really ugly sentence.
✕Common Mistakes
È una frase davvero brutto.
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun; 'frase' is feminine, so use 'brutta'.
È una frase davvero brutti.
Plural form is incorrect because 'frase' is singular.
È una frase davvero brutto/a.
Avoid mixing gender markers; choose the correct feminine form 'brutta'.
↔Alternatives
È una frase molto brutta.
It's a very ugly sentence.
Questa frase è davvero brutta.
This sentence is really ugly.
È una frase pessima.
It's a terrible sentence.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, calling a sentence 'brutta' can sound quite blunt. In formal settings you might soften the criticism with expressions like 'non è molto chiara' (it's not very clear) or 'potrebbe essere formulata meglio' (it could be phrased better). Regionally, the intensity of 'brutta' is understood across Italy, but some dialects may prefer 'cattiva' for a harsher tone.