belli

Belli is a term in Italian that can function as an adjective or as a surname. As an adjective, belli is the masculine plural form of bello, meaning handsome, beautiful, or good-looking. It is used with masculine plural nouns, as in ragazzi belli. The feminine plural form is belle. In everyday speech, many speakers also use expressions such as Che belli! to express admiration for something striking or enjoyable. The word can appear in various descriptive phrases, for example giorni belli (beautiful days).

As a surname, Belli is of Italian origin and is borne by numerous individuals in Italy and among Italian communities abroad. Surname usage does not imply a single shared meaning beyond its etymological connection to the adjective bello.

Etymology and related forms: belli ultimately derive from the Latin bellus, meaning pretty or charming, and are related to forms in other Romance languages that express beauty or goodness. The word demonstrates how Italian adjectives inflect for gender and number to agree with the nouns they describe.

In usage, belli demonstrates typical Italian adjective behavior: it agrees in gender and number with the noun it accompanies and can appear in both attributive and predicative positions. Beyond its literal meaning of “beautiful” or “handsome,” it also features in idiomatic and exclamatory expressions that convey admiration or favorable evaluation.

See also: bello, belle, bellezza, Italian grammar.