What does sta bene mean?

"Sta bene" is an Italian phrase commonly used to mean "he/she is well" or "he/she is feeling well."

Understanding the Italian Phrase 'Sta Bene'

The phrase "sta bene" is a fundamental expression in Italian, primarily used to describe someone's well-being or health. It translates directly to "he/she is well" or "he/she is feeling well." This expression is derived from the Italian verb stare, which in this context means "to be" or "to stay," particularly in relation to one's state or condition.

Literal Translation Breakdown

To understand "sta bene," let's break down its components:

• Sta: This is the third-person singular present indicative form of the verb stare. It corresponds to "he/she/it is" or "he/she/it stays."
• Bene: This is an Italian adverb meaning "well" or "good."

Together, "sta bene" literally means "he/she/it is well" or "he/she/it stays well."

Common Contexts and Examples

"Sta bene" is most frequently encountered in conversations about health, greetings, or general states of being.

Asking about well-being:
One of the most common applications is in response to a question about someone's health, such as:

• "Come sta Giovanni?" (How is Giovanni?)
• The typical answer would be: "Sta bene." (He is well / He is feeling well.)

General usage:

• It can refer to physical health: "Dopo la malattia, ora sta bene." (After the illness, now he/she is well.)
• It can refer to a general state of contentment: "Nonostante i problemi, la famiglia sta bene." (Despite the problems, the family is well.)

Grammatical Note: The Verb Stare

The verb stare (to be, to stay) is irregular and commonly used in Italian to express location, condition, or a temporary state. Unlike essere (to be), stare often implies a temporary or current state of being.

• Present Tense Conjugation (relevant forms):
  • io sto (I am/stay)
  • tu stai (you are/stay)
  • lui/lei/esso sta (he/she/it is/stays)
  • noi stiamo (we are/stay)
  • voi state (you all are/stay)
  • loro stanno (they are/stay)

Thus, "sta bene" specifically refers to the third person singular. For other subjects, the verb form would change (e.g., "Sto bene" - I am well; "Stiamo bene" - We are well).

Summary Table: 'Sta Bene'

For further exploration of Italian vocabulary and common phrases, you can refer to reputable online Italian dictionaries or language learning resources such as WordReference.