Meaning
solemn
- solemn; formal
- grave; dignified
- enormous; downright (informal, in fixed uses)
In a sentence
Alla festa ha fatto un ingresso molto solenne.
At the party, he made a very solemn entrance.
Perché fai quella faccia così solenne oggi?
Why are you making such a solemn face today?
Ha fatto una figuraccia solenne davanti a tutti.
He made a complete fool of himself in front of everyone.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| solenne | masculine · singular |
| solenne | feminine · singular |
| solenni | masculine · plural |
| solenni | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Mostly formal for ceremonies, declarations, or serious tone; for a sad or gloomy person, Italian more often uses serio or cupo.
- With religious events, solenne is common: messa solenne, celebrazione solenne. It sounds elevated, not everyday casual speech.
- In colloquial Italian, un solenne + noun can intensify negatively: una solenne sciocchezza, un solenne fiasco.