meraviglioso
Lemma: meraviglioso
Translation: wonderful; marvelous; amazing; astonishing; magnificent (adjective)
Etymology: From the Italian noun 'meraviglia' (wonder, marvel), which derives from Latin 'mirabilia' (wonderful things), from 'mirabilis' (wonderful, extraordinary), from the verb 'mirari' (to wonder at, admire). The Latin root 'mir-' is also found in English words like 'miracle', 'admire', and 'mirror'. The suffix '-oso' corresponds to English '-ous', creating an adjective meaning 'full of wonder'.
Example Usage
Che vista meravigliosa!
What a wonderful view!
Il concerto è stato meraviglioso.
The concert was marvelous.
Hai fatto un lavoro meraviglioso.
You did a marvelous job.
Roma è una città meravigliosa.
Rome is a marvelous city.
Che spettacolo meraviglioso!
What a wonderful show!
La Sicilia è un'isola meravigliosa.
Sicily is a wonderful island.
Abbiamo passato una giornata meravigliosa al mare.
We spent a wonderful day at the sea.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'marvel' + '-ous' = 'marvelous' which is very close to 'meraviglioso'
- Remember the root 'meravigl-' sounds like 'marvel' in English
- Picture something that fills you with wonder ('meraviglia') to remember 'meraviglioso'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Widely used in Italian culture to express admiration and appreciation. The word appears in many Italian songs, poems, and literature. It's also commonly used in everyday conversation to express delight or amazement at experiences, places, or people.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'meraviglioso' means 'wonderful' or 'marvelous', 'miracoloso' specifically means 'miraculous' and has stronger religious or supernatural connotations.
Notes: Both words share Latin roots related to wonder and amazement, but 'miracoloso' has a more specific supernatural or divine implication.
Mnemonic: 'Miracoloso' contains 'miracolo' (miracle), suggesting something beyond natural explanation, while 'meraviglioso' relates to 'meraviglia' (wonder), suggesting amazement but not necessarily supernatural.
Explanation: 'Meraviglioso' is an adjective describing something wonderful, while 'meravigliarsi' is a reflexive verb meaning 'to be amazed' or 'to marvel'.
Confused word:
Mi meraviglio della tua pazienza.
I marvel at your patience.
Notes: Both words share the same root 'meravigl-' but serve different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: The '-arsi' ending indicates a reflexive verb (an action you do to yourself), while '-oso' indicates an adjective describing a quality.