Calabrisella Mia

I love Italian adjectives and their ability to evoke all kinds of intricate and magical images in our minds.

As a writer, I’m always relying on adjectives to transform ordinary words or bring my sentences to life. Close your eyes and picture a simple cupcake. The cupcake itself is delicious, but when you add a bit of frosting or sprinkles, the cupcake becomes so much more inviting. That’s exactly what adjectives are – the frosting and sprinkles to our words.

The Italian language is so rich with expressive words. That’s likely why it is a language that so many people all over the world swoon over. I mean, it just sounds so poetic and hypnotizing, am I right?

Are you looking to build your Italian vocabulary? Or maybe even explore writing in Italian? Here are five wonderful Italian adjectives you can use to spruce things up.

VIVACE
(English: lively)

If I’m being honest, this word isn’t really new to me. I played the piano when I was younger and vivace describes the tempo of a piece of music. It means lively or upbeat and, let’s be honest, is there a better word to describe Italian cities and people? When I think of an Italian city like Napoli, what’s the Italian adjective that instantly comes to mind? Vivace! It’s the word that I’d use to define that cool trendy cocktail bar nestled in the old centre of one of my favourite seaside towns. I mean, just saying the word vivace stirs up this exciting energy in my soul. Go on, try it, and see what happens.

MITICO
(English: legendary)

This adjective exudes power and brilliance. When something is mind-blowing or impressive, you could say it’s mitico. There are many cultural icons in Italy that we can call legendary, take la mitica Vespa, for instance. This iconic scooter manufactured by Piaggio drove into our hearts in 1964 and has since become a staple in Italian culture. You can’t go anywhere without coming across one of these beauties. And somehow, they always seem to be perfectly parked in the most picturesque spots. I’ve often dreamed about what it would be like to own one. And who knows, magari un giorno avrò una mitica Vespa tutta mia.

INCANTEVOLE
(English: enchanting)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked through a historic centre or a medieval hamlet and just got lost in the atmosphere and magic of the place. Fiumefreddo Bruzio is without a doubt un borgo incantevole. The moment you pass through the medieval walls, you are pulled through its intertwining alleyways, noble residences, and impressive churches. And the real magic happens at sunset as you watch the last rays of the sun dip into the sea – so romantic and incantevole!

SPETTACOLARE
(English: spectacular) 

This is one of those adjectives that I hardly ever use in English. However, I use its Italian counterpart quite often. When I hear the Italian adjective spettacolare, I think of a grand performance. You are standing in front of greatness, eyes wide open, in complete awe. Maybe it’s the emphasis on the double t that just seems to reinforce the magnitude of what’s before you. Imagine standing on the beach, the waves crashing on the shore delicately grazing your naked feet. You look out onto the horizon; the sun reflects off the water, and the sky is painted in all the magnificent colours that you’d expect from a sunset…spettacolare!

INDIMENTICABILE
(English: unforgettable)

They take your breath away. They leave a permanent imprint on your heart and soul. They become part of who you are. They are the moments, experiences, places, or even people, who become indimenticabili. In 2019, in a moment of uncertainty, life presented me with an unforgettable weekend. È stato un weekend indimenticabile. I met amazing people who inspired me with their strong passion for their territory. I got to explore new terrain and reach new heights hiking up to almost 700 meters above sea level. This weekend couldn’t have come at a better time. It was a powerful and energizing experience that I won’t soon forget.

So, there you go! I hope I was able to give you a few more Italian adjectives to slip into your Italian repertoire. Let me know if any of these words were new to you!

If you want to find out what I’m up to, you can keep up with my daily life and musings over on the Calabrisella Mia Facebook Page and Instagram! P.S I do a lot of my posts in both Italian and English, so it could be a good learning tool!