che bello!
Lemma: che bello!
Translation: how beautiful!; how lovely!; how nice!; how wonderful! (exclamation)
Etymology: This Italian exclamation combines 'che' (what, how) from Latin 'quid' with 'bello' (beautiful, handsome) from Latin 'bellus'. The phrase is used to express admiration or appreciation for something aesthetically pleasing or emotionally moving.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'bell' in 'bello' as in 'bell-ringing beautiful' - something so beautiful it makes you want to ring bells in celebration.
- The 'che' sounds like 'kay' which can remind you of the English 'K' in 'OK, that's beautiful!'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This is an extremely common Italian exclamation used in everyday conversation to express appreciation or admiration. Italians are known for their expressiveness and this phrase embodies the Italian appreciation for beauty, whether in art, nature, food, or experiences.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'che bello!' expresses admiration for something beautiful, 'che brutto!' expresses the opposite - disgust or disappointment at something ugly or unpleasant.
Notes: The gender and number of 'bello' changes to match the noun: 'che bella!' (feminine singular), 'che belli!' (masculine plural), 'che belle!' (feminine plural).
Mnemonic: Bello contains 'bell' (beautiful) while brutto sounds like 'brute' (ugly, harsh).