Meaning
zeal, fervour, ardour
In a sentence
Ha fatto il lavoro con grande zelo.
He did the job with great zeal.
Perché metti tanto zelo in questa cosa?
Why do you put so much zeal into this?
Non serve tutto questo zelo, rilassati un po'.
You don't need all this zeal, relax a bit.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| zelo | masculine · singular |
| zeli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- More formal and literary than entusiasmo. Common in writing, speeches, and praise; less common in casual conversation.
- Often appears in fixed phrases like con zelo or mettere zelo in qualcosa, rather than as a standalone everyday noun.
- Can sound positive or excessive depending on context; too much zelo may imply over-eagerness or officious behavior.