dolce far niente

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English

Dolce Far Niente by John William Godward, 1897

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian dolce far niente (literally sweet doing nothing, sweet idleness).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌdɒltʃeɪ ˌfɑː nɪˈɛnteɪ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌdoʊltʃeɪ ˌfɑɹ niˈɛnteɪ/, /ˌdoʊltʃi ˌfɑɹ niˈɛnti/
  • Rhymes: -ɛnti
  • Hyphenation: dol‧ce far nien‧te

Noun

dolce far niente (uncountable)

  1. Sheer indulgent relaxation and blissful laziness, the enjoyment of idleness.
    • 1882, W. S. Gilbert, Iolanthe
      This gentleman is seen, / With a maid of seventeen, / A-taking of his dolce far niente; / And wonders he'd achieve, / For he asks us to believe / She's his mother—and he's nearly five-and-twenty!
    • 1890, J.W. Collins, “Society proceedings of the Colorado State Medical Society”, in The Omaha Clinic, volume 3, number 5, retrieved 2021-03-20, page 131:
      We should so organize our rank and mobilize our forces that our influence may not be dissipated before the advancing hosts of quackery and ignorance. This we can do effectively if only the wise and successful ones among our leaders can be induced to forgo the dolce far niente of the noontime of their lives.

Translations

Italian

Etymology

Literally, sweet doing nothing, sweet idleness.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdol.t͡ʃe ˈfar ˈnjɛn.te/
  • Hyphenation: dól‧ce‧fàr‧nièn‧te

Noun

dolce far niente m (uncountable)

  1. dolce far niente (enjoyment of idleness)
    Synonym: ozio