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essere triste
/ˈɛs.se.re ˈtri.ste/
to be sad
Sono triste perché non posso venire alla festa.
I am sad because I can't come to the party.
neutral
To feel sadness or unhappiness; to be in a state of low spirits.
Dopo la notizia, è stato triste per giorni.
After the news, he was sad for days.
Non essere triste, le cose miglioreranno!
Don't be sad, things will get better!
Used for both temporary sadness and deeper melancholy. Often paired with 'per' to indicate cause (e.g., 'essere triste per qualcosa').
Collocations
essere molto tristeto be very sadessere un po' tristeto be a bit sadessere triste per qualcosato be sad about something
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake
Avoid translating 'essere triste' as 'to be sadness' in English. Always use 'to be sad' as the verb phrase.
Gold Rule
Emotional Expressions
Italian often uses 'essere' + adjective for emotional states (e.g., 'essere felice', 'essere arrabbiato'). This is a key pattern for learners.
Word Origin
From Latin 'ex-' (out) + 'sedere' (to sit), originally meaning 'to sit out' or 'remain'. The sense of 'being in a state' evolved into emotional states like sadness. 'Triste' derives from Latin 'tristis' (sad, sorrowful).
Usage Notes
Common in both spoken and written Italian. Often used in everyday contexts to express temporary emotional states. Can be softened with 'un po' (a little) or intensified with 'molto' (very).
Word Breakdown
essere
to be
verbtriste
sad
adjectiveDizionario Italiano-Inglese