felicissimo

Felicissimo is an Italian adjective in its superlative form. It conveys a very high degree of happiness, commonly translated as extremely happy or very happy in English. In everyday speech, it describes people, moments, or experiences: “Sono felicissimo” (I am very happy), “Una giornata felicissima” (a very happy day). While it is often rendered as “very happy,” it does not always imply the absolute maximum happiness that “the happiest” would suggest in English; that sense is typically expressed with il più felice.

Etymology: Felicissimo is built from felice, meaning “happy,” which derives from Latin felix, meaning “lucky” or “successful.” The suffix -issimo is a productive Italian ending that forms the strongest degree of an adjective, creating a superlative/intensifier.

Usage: The form agrees with gender and number: masculine singular felicissimo, feminine singular felicissima, masculine plural felicissimi, feminine plural felicissime. It can modify nouns (“una giornata felicissima”) or serve predicatively (“Lui è felicissimo”). It appears in both everyday Italian and more expressive or literary contexts, including ceremonial language or festive writing.

See also: Felice, Felicità. English cognate: felicity.