If you want to say “nice” in Italian, context is everything. Italians use different words depending on whether someone is being kind, looks good, or has a warm personality. You’ll also need different expressions for phrases like “very nice” or “have a nice day.”
Diving into one word is a great way to spot patterns as you learn Italian. Here are six words for “nice” in Italian to start practicing today.
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Carino/carina
Carino/carina (m/f) is one of the most common and versatile ways to say someone or something is nice in Italian. Depending on the context, it can refer to physical or moral qualities.
- È una ragazza carina. = She’s a nice/cute girl.
- Che carino il tuo messaggio! = Your message was so nice!
- Grazie per l’aiuto, sei stato carino. = Thanks for the help, that was nice of you.
Bello/bella
When carino doesn’t feel enough for the person or what you describe, you can say bello/bella (m/f). Though it means “beautiful,” it’s also perfect to tell someone looks nice or that something is pleasant.
- È una bella persona. = He/She is a nice person.
- Che bella giornata! = What a nice day!
- Questo albergo è bello. = This hotel is nice.
Gentile
Gentile is one of the most beautiful words in Italian. It translates as “nice,” “kind,” and “polite.” In early Italian, it meant someone “of noble birth.” With the rise of Italian vernacular literature in the 14th century, gentile shifted in meaning to describe nobility of the soul rather than blood.
- È gentile dividere il gelato con tua sorella. = It is nice to share ice cream with your sister.
- Grazie! Tutti sono molto gentili qui! = Thank you! Everyone here is so nice.
Simpatico/simpatica
When someone is friendly and nice in a fun way, you can say simpatico/simpatica.
- Mi piace Luca, è simpatico. = I like Luca, he’s nice.
- Che simpatico! = How nice!
Buono/buona
Sometimes in English, “nice” and “good” are interchangeable. The same happens in Italian. Buono/a means “tasty,” but when directed to a person or an action, it conveys kindness or pleasantness.
- Lei è sempre buona con la sua amica. = She is always nice to her friend.
- Non avere paura! Il suo cane è buono. = Don’t be afraid. Her dog is nice.
- Hai fatto una buona azione. = You did a nice thing.
Accogliente
Imagine stepping into a cozy baita (chalet) in the Alps. It’s snowing outside, but inside it’s warm, with a crackling fireplace and soft lighting. The perfect word for it is accogliente. It’s how you say “nice” in Italian when you mean welcoming or homey.
It usually describes places, but it works just as well for people who make you feel at ease.
- La casa è molto accogliente. = The house is very nice and cozy.
- La tua famiglia è stata davvero accogliente. = Your family was so nice and welcoming.
How to say ‘very nice’ in Italian
Did you notice the Italian adverbs popping up in the last examples? Using molto (very/a lot) and davvero (really/so) to strengthen adjectives is very common in Italian, especially when giving an opinion about someone or something.
Adding an adverb to any of these words for “nice” in Italian will make the compliment feel genuine. For example, let’s say your friend gave you a present. Simply calling it carino (nice/cute) might sound lukewarm. But adding molto completely changes the tone.
- Ti è piaciuto il regalo? = Did you like the present?
- Sì, è carino. = Yeah, it’s nice. (meh!)
- Sì, è molto carino! = Yes, it’s very nice!
Molto (very) pairs perfectly with all the other words, making great combinations that all mean “very nice” in Italian. Think: molto bello, molto gentile, molto simpatico, or molto buono (which also translates as “very good” in Italian).
How to use ‘nice’ in Italian expressions
The English word “nice” shows up in many everyday phrases. However, the Italian expressions don’t always include a word-for-word translation. Here’s how to express some of the most common ones.
‘Nice to meet you’ in Italian
When meeting someone for the first time, Italians usually say
- Piacere. = Nice to meet you. (neutral)
- Piacere di conoscerti/conoscerla. = Nice to meet you. (informal/formal)
You can also introduce yourself by name.
- Piacere, Rebecca. = Nice to meet you, Rebecca.
- Mi ha parlato di Lei. Piacere, Alessandro. = He has talked about you. Nice to meet you, Alex.
‘Have a nice day’ in Italian
In this sentence, you say buona for “nice” in Italian. It works perfectly as a goodbye.
- Buona giornata! = Have a nice day! (It also translates as “have a good day” in Italian)
In the evening, switch to:
- Buona serata! = Have a nice evening!
Important: Do not confuse them with the Italian greetings buongiorno (good morning) and buonasera (good afternoon) and good evening).
It’s nice to see you
To say “It’s nice to see you,” Italians use bello (beautiful/nice). This expression feels especially lovely because it literally means, “How beautiful to see you.”
- Che bello vederti/vederla! (informal/formal) = So nice to see you!
Now you’ve got a solid foundation to start spreading good vibes, just like Italians do! And it’s only the beginning. The more you learn, the more fun it gets: from polite expressions to words for food and colors in Italian, you’ll build a rich (and really nice) Italian vocabulary without even realizing it.
Want to keep the momentum going? Discover how Rosetta Stone works and immerse yourself in Italian, one word at a time.
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