Describing someone’s personality in one’s native language is difficult enough, let alone in a language we don’t know well. Adjectives are commonly used to describe someone’s personality.
I’ve created a list of some of the most basic Italian adjectives to use when discussing personality, as well as some fun and useful expressions for more advanced learners.
I recommend learning every adjective and its antonym and associating it with someone you know or yourself.
Basic Italian adjectives to describe someone’s personality
| Italian Adjective | English Translation | Antonym |
|---|---|---|
| buono | good | cattivo |
| simpatico | nice, friendly | antipatico |
| empatico | empathetic | – |
| gentile, educato | polite | maleducato |
| generoso | generous | taccagno |
| felice | happy | triste |
| paziente | patient | impaziente |
| responsabile | responsible | irresponsabile |
| espansivo | effusive, warm | riservato |
| affettuoso | affectionate | – |
| altruista | altruistic | egoista |
| ottimista | optimistic | pessimista |
| impulsivo | impulsive | riflessivo |
| sicuro di sé | confident | timido |
| estroverso | extrovert | introverso |
| silenzioso | quiet | chiacchierone |
| coraggioso | brave | codardo |
| attivo | dynamic | pigro |
| affidabile | trustworthy, reliable | inaffidabile |
| ipocrita | hypocrite | sincero |
| allegro | cheerful, bubbly | – |
| arrogante | arrogant | – |
| socievole | sociable | asociale |
| stravagante | extravagant | – |
| sensibile | sensitive | insensibile |
Advanced Italian adjectives to describe someone’s personality
| Italian Adjective | English Translation |
|---|---|
| spensierato | cheerful, carefree |
| negligente | sloppy, careless |
| pensieroso | thoughtful |
| logorroico | long-winded (annoying) |
| loquace | chatty, talkative |
| polemico | quarrelsome |
| scorbutico | crabby, obnoxious |
| affascinante | charming |
| superficiale | shallow |
| tenace, determinato | determined |
| lunatico | moody |
| ipocondriaco | hypochondriac |
| vanesio | vain |
| venale | venal |
| permaloso | prickly |
| saccente | know-it-all, smart-ass |
| ambizioso | ambitious |
| parsimonioso | thrifty |
| curioso | inquisitive |
| invadente | nosy |
| insistente | pushy |
| sbadato | absent-minded |
Italian expressions to describe someone’s personality
| Italian Expression | English Translation |
|---|---|
| avere un caratteraccio | to be bad-tempered |
| avere un carattere solare | to have a radiant personality |
| avere una personalità affascinante | to have a charming personality |
| essere una vipera | to be bitchy |
| avere la mente aperta | to be open-minded |
| avere la mente chiusa | to be close-minded |
| essere alla mano | to be easygoing |
| avere un carattere deciso | someone who knows what he or she wants |
| essere un rompiscatole (vulgar) | to be a pain in the neck |
| essere un attaccabrighe | to be a troublemaker |
| essere una persona di buon cuore | to be good-hearted |
| essere una persona di sani principi | to be someone with good values |
| essere in (gran) forma | to be in great shape |
| essere fuori forma | to be in poor shape |
| vivere in un modo tutto suo | to live in one’s own world |
| essere pieni di sé | to be full of oneself |
| essere fuori dagli schemi | an unconventional person |
| avere una personalità forte | to have a strong personality |
| avere i piedi per terra | to be down-to-earth |
Italian adjectives to describe someone intellectual ability
| Italian Adjective | English Translation |
|---|---|
| geniale | brilliant |
| brillante | brilliant |
| sveglio | brainy (colloquial), smart |
| intelligente | intelligent |
| acuto | sharp |
| furbo | cunning (negative) |
| essere in gamba | to be very capable |
