Did you know that, before being the name of a beloved dessert, the word gelato means “frozen” or “freezing” in Italian? It’s used as a noun but started as an adjective! Italian vocabulary has spread worldwide, from art and architecture to food and fashion—so much so, that Italian nouns and adjectives are now used in many other languages, sometimes even with different meanings.
Italian adjectives are a very interesting part of speech: They can be formed from verbs or by combining two or more words and can also become nouns. In this article, you will find over 100 Italian adjectives to elevate your conversation and descriptions, together with the rules you need to know to speak Italian with confidence.
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How to use Italian adjectives correctly
Compared with other languages, basic Italian grammar is pretty straightforward for beginners to pick up. Considering it also features one of the easiest writing systems (you mostly write what you hear, and vice versa), the Italian language allows learners to focus only on the rules that matter.
For example, remember that, in Italian, every single word has a grammatical gender, both in the singular and plural forms and requires the use of different endings. Mastering adjectives in Italian is easier if you divide them into three categories: adjectives ending in “-o,” “-e,” and invariable adjectives.
Adjectives ending in “-o”
Most Italian adjectives end with an “-o” in their infinitive form, which is the masculine singular form. For example, let’s have a look at how the adjective alto (tall) modifies a masculine noun:
- L’albero è alto = The tree is tall
- Gli alberi sono alti = The trees are tall
Now, let’s see how it changes when paired with a feminine noun:
- Una ragazza alta = A tall girl
- Due ragazze alte = Two tall girls
As you can see, adjectives ending in “-o” follow the noun they refer to and match its gender and number.
Adjectives ending in “-e”
Italian adjectives ending in “-e” follow a different pattern as their endings change only depending on number not gender.
- Un suono forte = A loud sound
- Una casa grande = A big house
But:
- Dei libri interessanti = Some interesting books
- Due mele verdi = Two green apples
Invariable adjectives
There’s also a limited number of invariable adjectives that don’t change no matter the number or gender of the noun they modify. Fortunately, there aren’t a lot, so it’s easy to remember when you need to skip adjective agreement in Italian.
Most invariable adjectives are colors, such as blu (blue), rosa (pink), viola (violet or purple), lilla (lilac), amaranto (amaranth), and indaco (indigo).
Also, adjectives coming from other languages don’t match the gender and the number of the noun they modify:
- Un ristorante chic = A chic restaurant
- Una signora snob = A snobbish woman
The last category of invariable adjectives in Italian is that of the so-called “compound adjectives,” which are formed by mixing verbs, adjectives, nouns, prefixes and even Italian prepositions:
- Una vista mozzafiato = A breathtaking view
- I fari antinebbia = Fog lights
- Delle persone ammodo = Respectable people
How to use adjectives in a sentence
In most cases in English, adjectives in the attributive position are placed right before the noun they modify. On the other hand, if you want to speak fluent Italian, the exact opposite is true—adjectives normally follow the noun they refer to:
- Un film divertente = A funny movie
- Un appartamento spazioso = A spacious apartment
- Due cani neri = Two black dogs
However, some cases exist when Italian adjectives can be found before the noun they modify.
Short adjectives that are often placed before the noun
Some adjectives in Italian can come both before and after the noun. Here is the list of the most common ones:
- Buono = good, tasty
- Cattivo = bad
- Bello = good-looking
- Brutto = not attractive
- Nuovo = new
- Vecchio = old
- Grande = big, large
When used before the name, these adjectives have a descriptive function, meaning they simply add information about a noun. On the other hand, when they appear before the noun, they fulfill a restrictive or identifying function:
- I nonni vivono nella vecchia casa nel bosco. = The grandparents live in the old house in the woods (meaning, the house is or looks old).
- I nonni vivono nella casa vecchia nel bosco. = The grandparents live in the older house in the woods (meaning, they or their family also have another, newer house they could live in).
In addition, sometimes Italians place adjectives before nouns to hint at their secondary meaning instead of their primary one:
- Antonio è un uomo grande = Antonio is a big guy
- Antonio è un grande uomo = Antonio is a great man
Please note that when used before a noun, the masculine singular and plural forms of some of these irregular adjectives change:
| Before the Adjective | After the Adjective | English Meaning | |
| Masculine singular adjective | belbell’ | bello | handsome, beautiful, good-looking |
| Masculine singular adjective | buon | buono | good |
| Masculine singular adjective | gran (facultative, also for feminine) | grande | big, large |
| Before the Adjective | After the Adjective | English Meaning | |
| Masculine plural adjective | beibegli | belli | handsome, beautiful, good-looking |
| Masculine plural adjective | buoni | buoni | good |
| Masculine plural adjective | grandi | grandi | big, large |
Demonstrative adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives indicate the position in space and time of someone or something. In Italian, there are three demonstrative adjectives that also double as Italian pronouns: questo (this), quello (that) and codesto (that). The first two are very common, but you’ll rarely hear the last one, which nowadays can only be found in old books, films or Italian grammar books.
Like in English, questo refers to something next to the speaker, while quello hints at a person or object next to the listener or far from all the people engaging in the conversion.
| Masculine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Singular | Feminine Plural |
| questo/quest’ | questi | questa/quest’ | queste |
| quello/quell’/quel | quelli/quegli/quei | quella/quell’ | quelle |
These are both Italian adjectives ending in “-o” and, as such, should agree with the noun they modify in gender and number:
- Io lavoro in questo ufficio = I work in this office
- Questi frutti sono ottimi = These fruits taste amazing
- Quella finestra è sporca = That window is dirty
- Mi piacciono quelle camicie = I like these shirts
Of course, there will be some exceptions that learners should be aware of, for example, the phenomenon of elision. When used before a singular noun beginning with a vowel, the adjective questo (and its feminine form questa) become quest’.
- Quest’amicizia = This friendship
- Quest’albero = This tree
Remember that it doesn’t apply to the plural form.
The adjective quello is even trickier. Quello (masculine singular) and quegli (masculine plural) are something you write and say only when a masculine noun starts with a special or complex sound like “gn” or “s+consonant.” Otherwise, you should use the short forms quel and quei. Yet again, when the noun begins with a vowel, quello and quella lose their ending and are written quell’.
- Quel cane = That dog
- Quello scoiattolo = That squirrel
- Quell’aereo = That airplane
- Quei gatti = Those cats
- Quegli specchi = Those mirrors
- Quell’idea = That idea
Possessive Italian adjectives
As the name suggests, Italian possessive adjectives modify a noun by describing to whom something belongs or someone is related. They also fall into the category of modifiers and thus are normally used before the noun.
| English Pronoun | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
| My | mio | mia | miei | mie |
| Your (singular) | tuo | tua | tuoi | tue |
| His/her/its | suo | sua | suoi | sue |
| Our | nostro | nostra | nostri | nostre |
| Your (plural) | vostro | vostra | vostri | vostre |
| Their | loro | loro | loro | loro |
Unlike demonstrative adjectives, these are virtually always preceded by an article when they modify an object or a person that is not a family member.
- Mia mamma si chiama Giulia = My mother’s name is Giulia
- Dove sono i tuoi soldi? = Where is your money?
- Qual è il vostro colore preferito? = What’s your favorite color?
- Questo zaino è il suo = This is his/her backpack
The two exceptions would be when these adjectives refer to someone’s home, and—you guessed it—in the well-known expression “Mamma mia!”
- Ci vediamo a casa mia o a casa tua? = Are we meeting at my place or your place?
A list of useful Italian adjectives
The best way to learn words in a foreign language is not simply by reading and repeating them but by using them actively, as you would do with the Dynamic Immersion learning method. For this reason, it is important to learn verbs, nouns, and adjectives that come up in conversations more often or that you can use to discuss the things you like the most.
Below are some common adjectives, along with their English translations, that you can use in everyday conversation for various topics, from describing objects to expressing your feelings.
Italian adjectives to describe physical attributes
Although judging a book by its cover is wrong, sometimes you need to know a few words to describe it! Here are some Italian adjectives you can use to discuss the physical appearance of objects and people.
| Italian | English |
| alto | tall |
| basso | short |
| bello | beautiful |
| brutto | ugly |
| chiaro | light (in color) |
| corto | short |
| debole | weak |
| forte | strong |
| giovane | young |
| grande | big, large |
| grasso | fat |
| largo | wide |
| liscio | smooth |
| lungo | long |
| magro | thin |
| piccolo | small |
| robusto | robust |
| ruvido | rough |
| scuro | dark (in color) |
| snello | slender |
| stretto | narrow, tight |
| vecchio | old |
Adjectives in Italian for personality or emotions
Describing and discussing what people look like can be fun and necessary, but you often won’t stop at that. Whether you want to tell your friends why you don’t like your new coworker or update your besties about your latest crush, you must know how to describe personality traits and emotions in Italian.
These adjectives in Italian reveal a more meaningful and complex portrait of a person, as these qualities shape how we relate to each other.
| Italian | English |
| affettuoso | affectionate |
| allegro | cheerful |
| ambizioso | ambitious |
| arrabbiato | angry |
| avaro | stingy |
| calmo | calm |
| coraggioso | courageous |
| determinato | determined |
| disordinato | messy |
| egoista | selfish |
| felice | happy |
| generoso | generous |
| gentile | kind |
| impaziente | impatient |
| intelligente | intelligent |
| ipocrita | hypocritical |
| modesto | modest |
| nervoso | nervous |
| orgoglioso | proud |
| ottimista | optimistic |
| pauroso | fearful |
| paziente | patient |
| pessimista | pessimistic |
| pigro | lazy |
| scortese | rude |
| sensibile | sensitive |
| sincero | sincere |
| socievole | sociable |
| timido | shy |
| triste | sad |
Describing places in Italian
Italy is full of places that each have their own distinct feel, from ancient landmarks to modern spots. As you explore the Bel Paese (beautiful country), you’ll likely visit locations that are cozy and welcoming, spacious and quiet, or even crowded and colorful. The list below gives you a range of adjectives to help describe these places expressively.
| Italian | English |
| accogliente | cozy, welcoming |
| affollato | crowded |
| angusto | cramped |
| antico | ancient |
| caldo | warm |
| colorato | colorful |
| deserto | deserted |
| economico | inexpensive, cheap |
| freddo | cold |
| lussuoso | luxurious |
| moderno | modern |
| profumato | that smells good |
| pulito | clean |
| puzzolente | stinky |
| rumoroso | noisy |
| silenzioso | quiet |
| spazioso | spacious |
| sporco | dirty |
Adjectives for taste and describing food
It’s certainly not a secret that Italy is a land of exceptional food, where dining plays a significant role in daily life. Italians often gather in cafes and restaurants to enjoy meals and love to discuss their favorite dishes.
To fully appreciate this culinary culture, it’s helpful to know a variety of adjectives that describe flavors, textures, and aromas. Here are the most common ones:
| Italian | English |
| acerbo | unripe |
| amaro | bitter |
| aspro | sour |
| aromatico | aromatic |
| cotto | cooked |
| cremoso | creamy |
| croccante | crunchy |
| crudo | raw |
| delizioso | delicious |
| dolce | sweet |
| forte | strong (in flavor) |
| fresco | fresh |
| fruttato | fruity |
| insipido | bland/tasteless |
| leggero | light (in flavor) |
| maturo | ripe |
| morbido | soft |
| piccante | spicy |
| salato | salty, savory |
| saporito | flavorful/tasty |
| secco | dry |
| umido | moist |
Italian adjectives for colors
Knowing the names of different colors in Italian helps you describe objects, art, and even emotions more clearly. This vocabulary is essential whether you’re shopping, talking about fashion, or just about your surroundings.
Here’s a list of the most common colors in Italian to help you get started.
| Italian | English |
| arancione | orange |
| azzurro | light blue |
| beige | beige |
| bianco | white |
| blu | blue |
| grigio | gray |
| giallo | yellow |
| marrone | brown |
| nero | black |
| rosa | pink |
| rosso | red |
| verde | green |
| viola | purple |
Nationalities in Italian
If you’re studying in Italy, you’ll meet people from many different countries. Being familiar with nationalities in Italian will help you connect with your classmates and make conversations easier.
Knowing how to refer to people from various places is useful, especially in a multicultural environment.
| Italian | English |
| americano | American |
| australiano | Australian |
| brasiliano | Brazilian |
| canadese | Canadian |
| cinese | Chinese |
| coreano | Korean |
| danese | Danish |
| francese | French |
| finlandese | Finn |
| giapponese | Japanese |
| indiano | Indian |
| inglese | English |
| irlandese | Irish |
| islandese | Icelander |
| italiano | Italian |
| messicano | Mexican |
| norvegese | Norwegian |
| portoghese | Portuguese |
| russo | Russian |
| spagnolo | Spanish |
| svedese | Swedish |
| svizzero | Swiss |
| tedesco | German |
| vietnamita | Vietnamese |
Key takeaways about Italian adjectives
Here are a few things to remember about Italian adjectives, how they work, and what to remember.
- Adjective agreement in Italian is crucial. Adjectives ending in “-o” should always follow the noun they modify in gender and number. Adjectives ending in “-e” must agree only with the noun they refer to only in number. Lastly, invariable adjectives never change their ending, no matter the noun they modify.
- Most Italian adjectives typically follow the nouns they describe. However, a list of short adjectives (buono, cattivo, bello, brutto, nuovo, vecchio, and others) are normally placed before the noun to emphasize or change their meaning.
- Italian possessive and demonstrative adjectives always come before the noun they modify. Also, Italian possessive adjectives should always be preceded by an article when used for an object or a person who is not a family member.
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