La donna è mobile – Bilingual Lyrics Italian/English

• By: José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Italian through “La donna è mobile” offers a unique window into the country's rich operatic tradition. The aria's clear and repetitive lyrics make it an excellent tool for beginners to grasp pronunciation and rhythm. What makes this song special is its dramatic irony; while the lyrics claim women are fickle, it is the male singer who is the most deceitful character in the story, offering a fascinating glimpse into 19th-century social commentary and the enduring power of musical storytelling.

[English]

Woman is fickle

Like a feather in the wind

She changes her tone

And her thoughts

Always a lovely

Graceful face

In weeping or in laughter

She is deceitful

Woman is fickle

Like a feather in the wind

She changes her tone and her thoughts

And her thoughts

And her thoughts

She is always miserable

Whoever trusts her

Whoever confides in her

Foolishly risks his heart!

Yet one never feels

Completely happy

Whoever does not sip love

From that breast!

Woman is fickle

Like a feather in the wind

She changes her tone

And her thoughts

And her thoughts

And her...

Thoughts

Thoughts

Thoughts

[Italian]

La donna è mobile

Qual piuma al vento

Muta d'accento

E di pensier

Sempre un amabile

Leggiadro viso

In pianto o in riso

È menzognero

La donna è mobile

Qual piuma al vento

Muta d'accento e di pensier

E di pensier

E di pensier

È sempre misero

Chi a lei s'affida

Chi le confida

Mal cauto il cor!

Pur mai non sentesi

Felice appieno

Chi su quel seno

Non liba amor!

La donna è mobile

Qual piuma al vento

Muta d'accento

E di pensier

E di pensier

E di...

Pensier

Pensier

Pensier

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
donna /ˈdɔn.nə/ A1	noun - woman
mobile /ˈmoʊ.bəl/ B2	adjective - able to move freely or easily
piuma /ˈpjuː.mə/ B1	noun - feather
vento /ˈvɛn.to/ A2	noun - wind
muta /ˈmuː.tə/ B1	verb - to change
pensier /penˈsi.eɾ/ B2	noun - thought
amabile /aˈma.bi.le/ B2	adjective - lovable
viso /ˈvi.zo/ A2	noun - face
pianto /ˈpjan.to/ B1	noun - crying
riso /ˈri.zo/ B1	noun - laughter
menzognero /men.zoˈɲe.ro/ C1	adjective - deceitful
miserable /ˈmɪz.ə.rə.bəl/ B2	adjective - very unhappy or uncomfortable
cor /kɔr/ B2	noun - heart
felice /feˈli.tʃe/ B1	adjective - happy
seno /ˈse.no/ B2	noun - bosom
liba /ˈli.ba/ C1	verb - to sip or taste