intj
Uncommon
bravo
BRAH-voh
Bravo (intj) means used to express approval or praise, especially for a performer. Example: “Bravo! That was the best performance of the season.”
intj
1
Used to express approval or praise, especially for a performer.
"Bravo! That was the best performance of the season."
"Bravo, you have done a brilliant job!"
"The audience stood and shouted bravo as the singer took her final bow."
""Bravo!" called someone from the back when the violinist finished the last piece."
noun
1
The letter B in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
"The pilot confirmed the call sign as "Bravo Two.""
"In the radio message, the operator spelled the code as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie."
"If you say B over a bad phone line, add bravo to be clear."
How to use bravo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shout of praise for a good performance, or the phonetic-alphabet word for "B."
Common pairings
shout bravo
bravo zulu
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bravo.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- bravos, bravoes
- Past tense
- bravoed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____! That was the best performance of the season.
Etymology
From Italian bravo, a doublet of brave.
Related words
Rhymes for bravo
See all rhymes for bravo →Frequently asked questions
What does “bravo” mean?
The word “bravo” means used to express approval or praise, especially for a performer. In plain terms, a shout of praise for a good performance, or the phonetic-alphabet word for "B.".
How do you pronounce “bravo”?
“Bravo” is pronounced BRAH-voh (/ˈbɹɑvoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bravo” in a sentence?
Here is “bravo” used in a sentence: “Bravo! That was the best performance of the season.”
What part of speech is “bravo”?
Depending on how it is used, “bravo” can be an intj and a noun.
Where does the word “bravo” come from?
The word “bravo” comes from Italian. From Italian bravo, a doublet of brave.
Is “bravo” a common word?
“Bravo” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bravo” have?
“Bravo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to express approval or praise, especially for a performer.
Is "bravo" only used for men, with "brava" for women?
In Italian opera tradition, "bravo" is technically masculine and "brava" feminine, with "bravi" for groups. In everyday English, however, "bravo" is used as a general exclamation of approval regardless of who is being praised.
When is "bravo" used as the letter B rather than as praise?
"Bravo" represents the letter B in the NATO phonetic alphabet, used by pilots, the military, and radio operators to spell words clearly over noisy channels. In this context it has nothing to do with praise and is simply a code word.
Is saying "bravo" sarcastic or sincere?
"Bravo" is most often sincere, expressing genuine approval or praise for a performer or achievement. It can also be used sarcastically to mock a poor effort, with tone and context signaling which meaning is intended.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include bravo:
