Is it pretentious to use "brava!' instead of "bravo!"?

[Anonymous]

Some of you would enjoy E.F. Benson's "Lucia" series.

[Anonymous]

Ugh.

Extremely pretentious and very DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm pretentious because I'd have used Brava without even giving it a thought. Pardon me for being educated.

Italians are only laughing at you. We don't care how "educated" you THINK you are.

I for one, am really worried about what Italians think of me. You know because they've just done so much in recent history and are totally relevant to world economy. Greek people as well. I really care about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It reads and looks wrong so don't do it.

And no one will think you are being pretentious, they will just assume you didn't know any better and will correct you over and over.

No, it doesn't. When used in reference to a woman, it reads and looks just right to me. I wouldn't lower yourself to the common denominator, OP. Use brava. It's not pretentious to use it correctly.

+1

[Anonymous]

Yay!, Yippee!, and great job do not convey what brava or bravo do.

I use "Well done!"

Fora is awful, even though it is correct. I also do not use datum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just say good job. Bravo/a is best saved for live performances I would think.

Other than a live performance by a female classical singer it is pretentious, affected, and supercillious. Just say, "Great job!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a little thrown the first time I was with my central american friend and she said "Brava!" very naturally as encouragement to my daughter. I admit to being a WASP and it sounded weird to me. But it was very nice of her and a very natural spontaneous thing for her to say. So I think it depends on who you and who your employees are.

Because you are a WASP, you don't know Latin? Is that what you mean???

[Anonymous]

No because I just heard Marge Simpson use it. She is the bellwether of all things.

[Anonymous]

I say it all the time, but I speak Italian and lived in Italy.

[Anonymous]

I say bravy or bravu!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's pretentious. But that's hardly a hanging offense here in DC. I know a dozen people who would use it, and while I might pause a second and think "hm. pretentious." there's too much of it going around to really get anyone's back up.

Agree, it's pretentious but we're in a town where pretention rules. It's like someone who says "I'm well" when you ask how they're doing. Yes, it's grammatically correct but also makes me want to smack him.

[Anonymous]

Why say either Bravo or Brava if you're an American and you don't speak Italian why try to act like you do by using one word after a performance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm pretentious because I'd have used Brava without even giving it a thought. Pardon me for being educated.

Italians are only laughing at you. We don't care how "educated" you THINK you are.

I for one, am really worried about what Italians think of me. You know because they've just done so much in recent history and are totally relevant to world economy. Greek people as well. I really care about them.

I'd like to see you post about some other ethnic group on this forum that gets "more press" and see how others would respond by reporting your discriminatory post.

But go on with your big, bad self and degrade two ethnic groups who have indeed contributed to the world's development.

[Anonymous]

In professional English there has been an intentional move away from words that specify someone's gender. I'd find another word.

Saying Brava to someone after an event they managed, or a particularly persuasive presentation in the board room is fine, but including it in a written report is awkward.

[Anonymous]

Personally I like to say Bravissima/o! and then throw flowers at their feet.