dolce far niente

Borrowed from Italian dolce far niente (literally “sweet doing nothing, sweet idleness”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌdɒltʃeɪ ˌfɑː nɪˈɛnteɪ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌdoʊltʃeɪ ˌfɑɹ niˈɛnteɪ/, /ˌdoʊltʃi ˌfɑɹ niˈɛnti/
• Rhymes: -ɛnti
• Hyphenation: dol‧ce far nien‧te

dolce far niente (uncountable)

1. Sheer indulgent relaxation and blissful laziness, the enjoyment of idleness.
   • 1882, W.S. Gilbert, Iolanthe

     This gentleman is seen, / With a maid of seventeeen, / A-taking of his dolce far niente; / And wonders he'd achieve, / For he asks us to believe / She's his mother—and he's nearly five-and-twenty!

   • 1890, Collins, J.W., “Society proceedings of the Colorado State Medical Society”, in The Omaha Clinic‎, volume 3, number 5, page 131:

     We should so organize our rank and mobilize our forces that our influence may not be dissipated before the advancing hosts of quackery and ignorance. This we can do effectively if only the wise and successful ones among our leaders can be induced to forgo the dolce far niente of the noontime of their lives.

• dolce vita
• dulcet
• billet-doux

Literally, “sweet doing nothing, sweet idleness”.

• IPA^(key): /ˈdol.t͡ʃe ˈfar ˈnjɛn.te/
• Hyphenation: dól‧ce‧fàr‧nièn‧te

dolce far niente m (uncountable)

1. dolce far niente (enjoyment of idleness)

   Synonym: ozio

• dolce vita