eccellenti

Eccellenti is an Italian adjective meaning "excellent" or "outstanding." It is the plural form of eccellente; the singular form eccellente is used for both masculine and feminine nouns. Thus, eccellente modifies a singular noun, while eccellenti modifies a plural noun, with agreement in gender and number.

Etymology and form: the word derives from Latin excellens, the present participle of excellere, meaning "to surpass" or "to rise above." The Italian adjective retains this sense of superior quality and distinction.

Usage and nuance: eccellente is commonly used in formal and evaluative language to indicate high quality or performance. It can describe people (una persona eccellente), performances (una performance eccellente), results (risultati eccellenti), services, works of art, institutions, and more. It is stronger than more everyday terms like buono or bene and sits toward the high end of evaluative vocabulary. In many contexts, it can be complemented by related forms such as eccellenza (the noun “excellence”) or the superlative eccellentissimo.

Examples: una squadra eccellente, risultati davvero eccellenti, un lavoro eccellente. The term is versatile and widely understood in education, business, journalism, and cultural criticism.

See also: eccellenza, eccellere, eccellente (as an adjective’s head form). Overall, eccellenti conveys a clear judgment of superior quality when used in its plural form or when paired with a matching singular noun.