Word of the Day, September 12: ‘Dolce Far Niente’

Word of the Day: Dolce Far Niente

Pronunciation: UK /ˈdɒltʃeɪ fɑː ˌnjɛnteɪ/ US /ˈdɔltʃeɪ fɑːr ˈnjɛnteɪ/

Meaning

Dolce far niente is an Italian expression that means “the sweetness of doing nothing” or, more naturally, “pleasant idleness”.

Examples for daily usage

• I spent Sunday afternoon reading by the window, enjoying a little dolce far niente.
• The holiday gave her a chance to experience some dolce far niente after months of work.
• Sometimes, sitting with a cup of coffee and doing absolutely nothing is the perfect dolce far niente.

Origin and history

Dolce far niente is an Italian phrase that literally translates to “sweet doing nothing”. ‘Dolce’ means “sweet”, while far comes from the verb ‘fare’, meaning “to do”, and ‘niente’ means “nothing”. English records of the expression date back to 1814. 

The expression is particularly associated with the pleasure of leisure and idleness traditionally attributed to Italy, especially southern Italy. The Accademia della Crusca's Dizionario degli italianismi nell'Inglese records its use in English from 1814. It also notes that the expression entered English directly from Italian without being adapted into an English word. 

Cultural significance and modern usage

Today, dolce far niente is often used when talking about holidays, slow mornings, leisurely meals or moments spent simply enjoying one's surroundings. It is not necessarily about laziness. The phrase suggests that doing nothing can itself be enjoyable.

The idea has also become popular in discussions about slowing down and taking a break from constant productivity. 

Interesting facts

The expression has been used in English-language writing for more than two centuries. Etymological records note that it became fairly common in English literature, even though its precise status as a traditional Italian proverb is less straightforward than its popularity might suggest.

There is also a book actually titled Il dolce far niente by Italian writer Antonio Caccianiga. First published in the 19th century, it is a historical narrative set around life in Venice. 

The expression has travelled beyond Italian into several other languages, including English, German and Portuguese.

Examples from literature

• “There is a good deal of the dolce far niente in all this...” — Gleanings in Europe: Italy by James Fenimore Cooper
• “It was in the midst of one of these dolce far niente loiterings on the boulevards...” — Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7.

Synonyms

• Leisure
• Idleness
• Relaxation

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