dolce far niente

[dawl-che fahr nyen-te]

noun

Italian.

1. pleasing inactivity.

dolce far niente

/ ˈdoltʃe far ˈnjɛnte /

noun

1. pleasant idleness

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolce far niente¹

Literally, “(it is) sweet to do nothing”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolce far niente¹

literally: sweet doing nothing

Example Sentences

There is a pleasant idleness, a sense of “dolce far niente,” or sweetness of doing nothing, that is raised to a public art form.

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The movie is often characterised as a study in ennui and curdled dolce far niente, a sunbaked torpor and languor that incubates marital despair.

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Even, then, says Emmerson it was regarded by northern Europeans as a backward, ragamuffin city, whose dolce far niente – sweet languor – belied an obscure exuberance of life and Tangier-like decadence.

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Nowhere in the world can one obtain more of the dolce far niente, than thus floating slowly and dreamily on the Nile.

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“This is dolce far niente for fair,” murmured Jack lazily.

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