Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Sad" in Italian: triste
triste
Sad in Italian is triste (TREES-teh). Like felice, singular triste works for any gender, and the plural is tristi. Say sono triste for I am sad.
After bad news
Oggi mi sento un po' triste.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce triste
Say it
TREES-teh
/ˈtris.te/
Triste is TREES-teh with stress on TREES. The final e is a short eh. Keep the r tapped once.
"Sad" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| triste | sad Singular for any gender. | Singular for any gender. |
| tristi | sad (plural) For more than one person or thing. | For more than one person or thing. |
| abbattuto/a | down, low Stronger low mood. | Stronger low mood. |
| una storia triste | a sad story Triste also describes things, not only people. | Triste also describes things, not only people. |
How to use triste in real life
- 1After bad news
Oggi mi sento un po' triste.
Today I feel a bit sad.
Un po' softens the feeling.
- 2Talking about a film
Quel film è davvero triste.
That film is really sad.
Triste describing a thing stays singular.
- 3About friends
Siamo tristi per la partenza di Anna.
We're sad about Anna leaving.
Plural adjective: tristi.
Mistakes English speakers make with triste
Incorrect: Sono trista.
Correct: Sono triste.
There is no trista in standard Italian. Singular stays triste.
Incorrect: Loro è triste.
Correct: Loro sono tristi.
Plural subject needs sono and tristi.
Good to know
Italians may open space for sadness with mi dispiace (I'm sorry) before advice. Triste is direct but not rude; softening with un po' helps in early conversation with acquaintances.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking in after a tough day
ChatPal
Sembri triste. Vuoi parlarne?
You look sad. Want to talk about it?
You
Un po'. Sono triste per una lite in famiglia.
A bit. I'm sad about a family argument.
ChatPal
Mi dispiace. Essere triste a volte è normale.
I'm sorry. Being sad sometimes is normal.
You
Grazie. Non voglio restare triste tutta la sera.
Thanks. I don't want to stay sad all evening.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sad" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sad" in Italian
Does triste change with gender?
Not in the singular. Use triste for he or she, and tristi for plural.
How do I ask if someone is sad?
With a friend: Sei triste? Or softer: Stai bene? You look down.
Can triste describe a place?
Yes. Una città triste or una canzone triste both work.
What noun pairs with triste?
La tristezza means sadness. Sono pieno/a di tristezza is possible but sono triste is simpler.
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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