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Sprezzatura: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Sprezzatura noun. Studied carelessness: making something difficult look effortless and casual.
How to say it
spret-suh-TOOR-uh/ˌsprɛtsəˈtʊərə/
4 syllables, stressed on the third (TOOR).
Sprezzatura in a sentence
The best Italian tailoring has sprezzatura: the tie left a little askew on purpose.
She played the concerto with a sprezzatura that hid months of practice.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- nonchalance
- effortlessness
- insouciance
- ease
Opposite:
- affectation
- effort
Where sprezzatura comes from
Italian, made famous by Baldassare Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier in 1528.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
She played the concerto with a _____ that hid months of practice.
- sprezzatura
- karma
- leitmotif
Show the answer
sprezzatura: She played the concerto with a sprezzatura that hid months of practice.