Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Handsome" in Italian: bello
bello
Handsome in Italian is bello (BEL-loh)—the same word as beautiful. For a man you say è bello or è un bel ragazzo. Feminine is bella; before many masculine nouns bello becomes bel.
Photo comment
Nella foto sei davvero bello.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bello
Say it
BEL-loh
/ˈbɛl.lo/
Bello is BEL-loh with a held double l. Bel before a noun is a short bel.
"Handsome" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bello | handsome / beautiful (m) After the noun or alone. | After the noun or alone. |
| bel | handsome (before m noun) Un bel ragazzo. | Un bel ragazzo. |
| bellissimo | really handsome Strong compliment. | Strong compliment. |
| che bello! | how nice! / great! Not only about looks. | Not only about looks. |
How to use bello in real life
- 1Photo comment
Nella foto sei davvero bello.
In the photo you look really handsome.
Sei bello to a man.
- 2Talking about an actor
Quel ragazzo è davvero bello, non trovi?
That guy is really handsome, don't you think?
Bello after the noun.
- 3Friend teasing
Oggi sei bellissimo con quella giacca.
Today you look really handsome in that jacket.
Bellissimo for emphasis.
Mistakes English speakers make with bello
Incorrect: Un bello uomo. (before vowel often)
Correct: Un bell'uomo. / È un uomo bello.
Before a vowel, bell' is common; un bel + consonant noun otherwise.
Incorrect: Marco è bella.
Correct: Marco è bello.
Masculine ending -o for a man.
Good to know
Italian doesn't keep a separate everyday word for handsome the way English does—bello covers good looks for anyone and also nice weather or news. Ciao bello between friends is warm; from a stranger it can feel pushy.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Getting ready for a date
ChatPal
Secondo te questa camicia mi fa bello?
Do you think this shirt makes me look handsome?
You
Sì, sei bello così, semplice.
Yes, you look handsome like that, simple.
ChatPal
Meglio del maglione? Voglio essere bello ma comodo.
Better than the sweater? I want to look handsome but comfortable.
You
La camicia. Sei più bello con il collo libero.
The shirt. You look more handsome with an open collar.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Handsome" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Handsome" in Italian
Is there a special word for handsome?
Everyday Italian uses bello, not a separate handsome word.
Bel vs bello?
Bel before most masculine nouns; bello after or before s+consonant/z.
Compliment a woman?
Bella / bellissima.
Che bello about a person?
More often about a situation; for looks prefer sei bello/a.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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