molto bene
very well
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Italian way to say you're doing great or that something was done perfectly.
- Means: Very well or very good (describing an action or state).
- Used in: Answering 'How are you?' or giving positive feedback on work.
- Don't confuse: Use 'bene' for actions/states; use 'buono' for things like food.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
Describing state.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Italians often use 'molto bene' with a specific hand gesture: the 'hand purse' (fingertips together) moving slightly up and down to emphasize satisfaction. In the South, 'molto bene' might be replaced by 'benissimo' or even 'assai bene' in regional dialects, reflecting a more superlative communication style. Using 'molto bene' in a meeting shows you are decisive and positive. It is a common way to close a topic before moving to the next agenda item. Teachers use 'Molto bene' as a standard written comment on homework. It is the equivalent of an 'A' or 'Excellent' in English-speaking systems.
The 'Stare' Rule
Always pair 'molto bene' with the verb 'stare' when talking about yourself. Never use 'essere' (e.g., 'Sono molto bene' is wrong).
Food Confusion
If you say 'La pasta è molto bene', Italians will think you mean the pasta itself is healthy or performing well. Say 'La pasta è molto buona'!
Bedeutung
Describing state.
The 'Stare' Rule
Always pair 'molto bene' with the verb 'stare' when talking about yourself. Never use 'essere' (e.g., 'Sono molto bene' is wrong).
Food Confusion
If you say 'La pasta è molto bene', Italians will think you mean the pasta itself is healthy or performing well. Say 'La pasta è molto buona'!
Enthusiasm Matters
Don't be afraid to sound enthusiastic. 'Molto bene' is a positive phrase; say it with a smile!
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about health.
Come stai? Sto molto ____.
When using the verb 'stare' to talk about health, you must use the adverb 'bene'.
Fill in the blank to say that Marco speaks Italian very well.
Marco parla italiano _____ bene.
'Molto' is the adverb used to intensify 'bene'.
Match the response to the situation.
Your boss says: 'Abbiamo finito il progetto in tempo!' (We finished the project on time!)
'Molto bene' is the correct way to express satisfaction with a result or action.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ti piace come ho cucinato la carne? B: Sì, è cucinata ____ ____.
Because the speaker is describing *how* it was cooked (the action), 'molto bene' is required.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Bene vs. Buono
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenYes! It is a very common standalone response to show agreement or satisfaction.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
They are almost identical. 'Benissimo' is slightly more emphatic and common in casual speech.
Because 'buono' is an adjective describing a person's character (being a 'good person'), while 'bene' describes your state of being.
Verwandte Redewendungen
benissimo
specialized formextremely well
va bene
similarokay / it's going well
tutto bene
similareverything is fine
molto buono
contrastvery good (adjective)
Wo du es verwendest
Meeting a friend for coffee
Luca: Ciao! Come stai oggi?
Giulia: Molto bene, grazie! E tu?
At a restaurant (complimenting the chef)
Cameriere: Com'è la pasta?
Cliente: È cucinata molto bene, complimenti!
Job Interview feedback
Intervistatore: Ha risposto molto bene a tutte le domande.
Candidato: La ringrazio molto.
Confirming a plan on WhatsApp
Paolo: Ti va bene se ci vediamo alle 19:00?
Sara: Molto bene, a dopo!
At the doctor's office
Dottore: Come si sente dopo la cura?
Paziente: Mi sento molto bene, non ho più dolore.
Language class
Insegnante: Hai pronunciato questa parola molto bene.
Studente: Grazie, professore!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'MOLTO' as 'Multi' (a lot) and 'BENE' as 'Benefit'. A lot of benefits make you feel very well!
Visual Association
Imagine a chef in a white hat tasting a sauce, closing his eyes, and giving a slow, emphatic thumbs up while saying 'Molto bene'.
Rhyme
Se tutto va a gonfie vele, rispondi sempre: molto bene!
Story
Marco was nervous about his Italian test. He studied all night. When the teacher handed back the paper, there was a big red smiley face and the words 'Molto Bene' written at the top. Marco smiled and told his mom, 'Sto molto bene!'
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to use 'molto bene' at least three times today: once when someone asks how you are, once to praise a meal you're eating (careful, use it for the cooking!), and once when you finish a task.
In Other Languages
Muy bien
In Spanish, 'muy bien' is often used where Italians might prefer 'benissimo'.
Très bien
French 'très bien' is slightly more common as a standalone exclamation of agreement.
Sehr gut
German doesn't distinguish between the adjective and adverb forms of 'good/well' in this context.
とてもいい (Totemo ii)
Japanese relies more on verbs or specific adjectives for state rather than a simple adverbial phrase.
جيد جداً (Jayyid jiddan)
The word order is reversed compared to Italian.
很好 (Hěn hǎo)
Chinese doesn't have a separate adverbial form like 'bene'.
매우 잘 (Maeu jal)
Korean usage is very similar to Italian in its adverbial function.
Muito bem
Pronunciation is the only major difference.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'buono' for health or actions.
Use 'bene' for verbs (actions/states) and 'buono' for nouns (things).
Learners use 'bello' to mean 'well done'.
'Bello' refers to visual beauty; 'bene' refers to quality of execution.
FAQ (4)
Yes! It is a very common standalone response to show agreement or satisfaction.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
They are almost identical. 'Benissimo' is slightly more emphatic and common in casual speech.
Because 'buono' is an adjective describing a person's character (being a 'good person'), while 'bene' describes your state of being.
