l’amaro

Definition & meaning

Amaro primarily means bitter, describing a taste like that of unsweetened coffee. Figuratively, it can mean bitter, painful, or disappointing, as in an unpleasant experience.

As a noun, amaro is a bitter Italian herbal liqueur, often drunk after a meal.

Grammar & Word origin

Amaro is an adjective with four forms: masculine singular amaro, feminine singular amara, masculine plural amari, and feminine plural amare.

It comes from Latin amarus, meaning “bitter.”

Synonyms & antonyms

• acre ↗ — “sharp” or “pungent”; it emphasizes an intense, biting taste or smell.
• doloroso ↗ — “painful”; a synonym for the emotional or figurative sense.
• dolce ↗ — “sweet”; the opposite in taste, and sometimes figuratively.
• piacevole ↗ — “pleasant”; an opposite when describing an experience.

Common phrases & collocations

• caffè amaro ↗ — coffee without sugar.
• amara sorpresa ↗ — an unpleasant surprise.
• avere l’amaro in bocca ↗ — to feel disappointed or resentful; literally, “to have a bitter taste in one’s mouth.”