dolce far niente

American

[dawl-che fahr nyen-te] / ˈdɔl tʃɛ fɑr ˈnyɛn tɛ /

noun

Italian.

pleasing inactivity.

dolce far niente British

/ ˈdoltʃe far ˈnjɛnte /

noun

pleasant idleness

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dolce far niente

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Now he has gone completely dolce far niente.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Rome iridescent socialites decayed in amiable dolce far niente.

From Time Magazine Archive

For the better part of our bird neighbors the summer sojourn is no dolce far niente.

From Sigurd Our Golden Collie and Other Comrades of the Road by Bates, Katharine Lee

I really cannot undertake to keep Tribble in dolce far niente, and I give Mrs. Tribble notice to leave. 20th July, 1872.

From John Bull, Junior or French as She is Traduced by O'Rell, Max

He just popped over, and had a few days of delightful dolce far niente at Venice.

From Mr. Punch On Tour by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023