Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Italian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Tutti sono felici.
What does Tutti sono felici mean?
It means "Everyone is happy." In this sentence, tutti translates as "everyone" or "all," sono is the third-person plural form of the verb essere (to be), and felici is the plural adjective meaning happy.
Why is the verb sono used instead of è?
Because sono is the third-person plural form of essere. Since tutti is a plural subject (referring to everyone/all), the verb must agree in number with the subject. Using è would be incorrect because that form is singular.
Why does the adjective felici end with -i?
The adjective ends with -i to agree with the plural subject tutti. In Italian, adjectives must match the noun (or pronoun) they describe in number—and often in gender. Here, felice becomes felici in its plural form to correspond with tutti.
Is it necessary to include an explicit noun for the subject in this sentence?
No, it isn’t. Tutti functions as a pronoun that already means "everyone" or "all." When the context is clear, Italian often omits the noun (like people) because the meaning is fully conveyed by tutti along with the verb and adjective.
Can I use this structure with other adjectives in Italian?
Absolutely. The structure Tutti sono [adjective] can be applied to a variety of adjectives, as long as the adjective agrees with the plural subject. For example, Tutti sono stanchi means "Everyone is tired," following the same grammatical rules.
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
You've reached your AI usage limit
Sign up to increase your limit.