meravigliandosi

Meravigliandosi is the present participle (gerund) of the Italian pronominal verb meravigliarsi, meaning to marvel, be astonished, or be surprised. As a reflexive verb, meravigliarsi takes the reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si) in its finite forms, and the gerund form meravigliandosi refers to an ongoing or concomitant action of astonishment. The verb can also appear in compound tenses (mi sono meravigliato, ti sei meravigliato, ecc.).

Usage and nuance: Meravigliandosi expresses a reaction of wonder or astonishment toward a person, event, or phenomenon. It is often used in literary or descriptive contexts and can introduce a description of how someone acts in the moment. Common constructions include meravigliandosi di + noun or di fronte a + noun, or meravigliandosi che + clause in certain dialectal or formal registers. It tends to convey a more reflective or measured tone than simple stupefaction.

Examples:

- Meravigliandosi di fronte alla bellezza del paesaggio, si fermò per qualche minuto. (Being astonished by the beauty of the landscape, he stopped for a few minutes.)

- I visitatori, meravigliandosi, guardarono curioso l’interno della casa. (The visitors, marveling, looked curiously at the interior.)

- Si è trovato meravigliandosi di quanto fosse semplice la soluzione. (He found himself marveling at how simple the solution was.)

Related terms: meraviglia (wonder), meraviglioso/a (wonderful), stupirsi (to be astonished or surprised). Meravigliandosi is somewhat literary or formal in tone, and in everyday speech speakers often use si sta/si è meravigliato instead.