Complete Guide to "Felice di Partire": How and When to Use It

Have you ever felt that unmistakable joy before a trip or a new beginning? It's a universal feeling, and in Italian there's a perfect expression for describing it: "felice di partire". Understanding and using adjectival phrases like this will help you speak like a native and expand your Italian vocabulary. In this post, we'll explore the meaning, grammar, and practical uses of this phrase, to help you incorporate it into your daily conversations. Are you ready to learn Italian in a more authentic way?

Table of Contents

• What does “Felice di Partire” Mean?
• The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Errors
• Real-Life Examples with “Felice di Partire”
• Related Words and Expressions
• Conclusion

What does “Felice di Partire” Mean?

• "Felice": An adjective that expresses joy, happiness, satisfaction. It comes from the Latin felix, "fertile," "fortunate." In Italian, "felice" does not change for gender (masculine/feminine) but does for number (felice/felici).
• "Di": A simple preposition that introduces a causal complement, specification, or, as in this case, an infinitive verb that expresses the reason for happiness or a purpose.
• "Partire": An intransitive verb meaning to leave a place, to set off on a journey, or to begin something. It can refer to a physical trip or the start of a new phase of life.
• "Felice di partire": Feeling joy or happiness about an upcoming departure or the start of a journey/activity. The phrase highlights positive anticipation and enthusiasm toward the act of "departing." It is often used to express one's positive expectation of a future event.

More: Frustrato dalla situazione meaning, grammar, and natural usage explained

The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Errors

• Adjective Agreement: The adjective "felice" does not change form for gender. It remains "felice" for both masculine and feminine (e.g. he is felice, she is felice). It changes only in the plural: "felici" (e.g. they are felici).
  • Examples:
    • Marco è felice di partire.
    • Giulia è felice di partire.
    • I ragazzi sono felici di partire.
    • Le ragazze sono felici di partire.
• Preposition "di": After the adjective "felice," the preposition "di" is almost always used when followed by an infinitive verb. This "adjective + di + infinitive" structure is very common in Italian to express the reason or object of a feeling. To learn more about prepositions with adjectives, you can consult resources like the prepositions page of the Dizionario online di WordReference.
  • Correct: Sono felice di vederti.
  • Incorrect: Sono felice a vederti. / Sono felice per vederti.
• Common Errors:
  • Mixing up "di" with other prepositions ("a", "per", "da"). "Felice a partire" or "felice per partire" are incorrect. The standard construction is "felice di + infinitive."
  • Not agreeing "felice" in the plural for number. Remember: felice (singular), felici (plural).

Real-Life Examples with “Felice di Partire”

Here are some practical examples to see how "felice di partire" is used in real contexts. These examples will help you understand how to add the phrase to your Italian vocabulary and describe people in Italian who feel this way.

• Dialogue 1: An Anticipated Vacation

  Persona A: "Finalmente è quasi ora! Il volo per la Grecia è domani." Persona B: "Non vedo l'ora! Sono così felice di partire e rilassarmi al sole."

• Dialogue 2: A New Chapter

  Persona A: "Allora, come ti senti riguardo al trasferimento in un'altra città per il nuovo lavoro?" Persona B: "Un po' di nostalgia, certo, ma sono davvero felice di partire per questa nuova avventura. Credo sarà un'ottima opportunità."

• Dialogue 3: The Excitement of Discovery

  Persona A: "Sei pronto per l'escursione in montagna? Ci aspetta una lunga camminata." Persona B: "Assolutamente! Sono felice di partire all'alba. Mi piace l'idea di esplorare nuovi sentieri."

• Example 4: After a Difficult Period

  Dopo un lungo ricovero in ospedale, era finalmente felice di partire per tornare a casa e riabbracciare la sua famiglia.

• Example 5: The Academic Future

  Luca ha studiato tanto per quella borsa di studio, ed era davvero felice di partire per l'America e iniziare il suo dottorato.

Related Words and Expressions

To expand your Italian vocabulary and learn Italian in a more nuanced way, here are some expressions similar to "felice di partire" that you can use in different contexts:

Conclusion

We have explored the expression "felice di partire", from its meaning to the grammatical rules and its use in real contexts. Now you have the tools to express your joy for a new beginning or an upcoming journey in a more authentic way, enhancing your way of speaking like a native.

We are felice di partire for a new chapter in your Italian learning! What is your dream destination? Share your sentence: "Sono felice di partire per..." in the comments below!