Italian Phrase
Bellissimo!
Meaning
An enthusiastic exclamation meaning ‘beautiful’, ‘great’, or ‘awesome!’ It conveys strong approval or delight about something you see, hear, taste, or experience.
When to use
Use bellissimo when you want to praise a stunning view, a delicious dish, a piece of art, or any experience that impresses you. It’s informal and works best in casual conversation with friends or when reacting to something you personally enjoy.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Bellissimo
Adjective Agreement
Bellissimo is the masculine singular form of the adjective ‘bello’. It must match the gender and number of the noun it describes (e.g., bellissima for feminine, bellissimi for plural).
Interjection Use
When used alone with an exclamation mark, bellissimo functions as an interjection expressing admiration, similar to ‘awesome!’ in English.
Stress Pattern
The stress falls on the penultimate syllable: bel‑LIS‑si‑mo.
🗨In Conversation
Bellissimo!
Beautiful!
Sì, è davvero stupendo.
Yes, it’s really wonderful.
✕Common Mistakes
La pizza è bellissimo.
Used with a feminine noun; should be bellissima.
I fiori sono bellissimo.
Used with a plural noun; should be bellissimi (masc.) or bellissime (fem.).
Bellissimo il panorama.
Missing the exclamation mark can make it sound like a plain adjective rather than an interjection.
↔Alternatives
Che bello!
How beautiful!
Fantastico!
Fantastic!
Stupendo!
Stunning!
Magnifico!
Magnificent!
Cultural Tip
Italians love expressive adjectives, and bellissimo is a go‑to word for showing enthusiasm. It’s perfectly fine to use it with food, scenery, music, or even a good joke. Just remember to match gender (bellissima) and number (bellissimi) when you attach it to a noun; otherwise it can sound ungrammatical.