sprezzatura
Say it: spret-suh-TYOOR-uh /ˌsprɛtsəˈtʊərə/ · noun
What “sprezzatura” means
Making something difficult look easy through practised skill.
More precisely: Studied carelessness; making difficult things look effortless.
Example: “His sprezzatura on stage hides hours of rehearsal.”
When to use it
Use it for carefully achieved ease in performance, style or manners. It sounds cultured and usually expresses admiration.
Similar words
effortlessness, nonchalance, ease
Where it comes from
Italian; coined by Baldassare Castiglione in The Book of the Courtier (1528).
Quick check
A dancer makes a difficult routine look casually effortless, hiding months of careful practice. What quality does this show?
sprezzatura or improvisation?
Show the answer
sprezzatura
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