What is a preposition?

How many times have you come across very short Italian words like di, da and a and you weren’t sure what they were or how to translate them?

Italian prepositions are short words (the equivalent of in, at, for etc.) usually followed by a noun or a pronoun, which show how people and things relate to the rest of the sentence.

For example, in the following sentence, ‘a’ is the preposition, and it tells you where the subject (we) is in relation to another word (Milan): the preposition is telling that we are in Milan.

Siamo a Milano. We are in Milan.

Where do prepositions go in a sentence?

Usually prepositions are to be found in front of a noun (a person, an item etc.) or a pronoun (te, noi, loro etc.), to show the relationship between that noun and the rest of a sentence.

Voglio andare fuori con te. I want to go out with you.

Remember: in English you can put the preposition at the end of a question, separating it from the noun, whereas in Italian you can’t do that: the preposition always goes in front of another word!

Di chi stai parlando? Who are you talking about?

What are and how do I use the Italian prepositions?

The Italian prepositions are: DI, A, DA, IN, CON, SU, PER, TRA (or FRA).

If some of them have the same meaning and use of their equivalent in English (for example con / with, or tra / between), most of them can have a lot variations in the way they’re used. This is because, depending on the sentence, a simple word like ‘to’ can be translated with A, DA or IN.

So, here’s how to use the Italian prepositions:

DI (of):

• possession: la macchina di Luca / Luca’s car
• material: la camicia di seta / the silk shirt
• origin (with the verb essere): lei è di Palermo / she is from Palermo
• age: un uomo di 45 anni / a 45 year old man
• before an adjective and after an indefinite pronoun (something, nothing…): oggi non c’è niente di bello da fare / today there’s nothing nice to do

A (to, in):

• before towns / cities: abito a Perugia / I live in Perugia Vado a Roma / I go to Rome
• time: ci vediamo a mezzogiorno / see you at midday
• months: a settembre inizio la scuola / in September I will start school
• directions: a destra, a sinistra / to the right, to the left
• location: sei a scuola / you are at school

DA (from):

• origin (with the verb venire): vengo da Firenze / I come from Florence
• with the passive form: il libro è scritto da me / the book is written by me
• use of an item: occhiali da sole / sunglasses
• to state how long for: vivo in Italia da sei anni / I have lived in Italy for 6 years
• before a verb in the infinitive and after an indefinite pronoun (something, nothing…): qualcosa da mangiare / something to eat
• going to people’s places: vado da mia mamma / I go to my mum’s
• ..to: da ottobre a dicembre / from October to December

IN (in, by):

• with countries or regions: in Lombardia, in Italia / in Lombardy, in Italy
• transport: vado in macchina, in treno, in aereo… / I go by car, by train, by plane…
• with names of places ending in -ia: mangiamo in pizzeria / we eat at the pizzeria

CON (with):

• company: guardo un film con mio padre / I watch a film with my Dad
• means: apro la porta con la chiave / I open the door with the key

SU (on):

• topic: ho letto un libro su Monet / I read a book about Monet
• position: il bicchiere è sul tavolo / the glass is on the table

PER (for):

• destination: il treno parte per Parigi / The train is leaving for Paris
• a set amount of time: ti ho aspettato per tre ore / I waited for you for 2 hours
• cause: sono svenuto per il caldo / I fainted due to the heat
• intention (followed by verb in the infinitive): lavoro per vivere / I work to live
• recipient: ho un regalo per te / I have a present for you

TRA o FRA (between):

• position: il tavolo è tra due sedie / the table is between two chairs
• in (time): esco tra dieci minuti / I am going out in ten minutes

Prepositions + definite articles.

When using the Italian prepositions together with definite articles (il, lo, la etc.), these two elements combine and form a newer word, which you can easily learn if you look at the following chart. We called these PREPOSIZIONI ARTICOLATE.

Prepositions after verbs

In Italian there are a lot of verbs which are followed by prepositions, in the same way as certain English verbs: to rely on, to think of, to talk about etc.

In some cases, the same verb can be followed by more than one preposition, and the meaning changes depending on which preposition we are using.

• Parlo a te. I talk to you.
• Parlo di te. I talk about you.

Here’s some commonly used verbs with their prepositions:

Verbs followed by a:

• dare a = to give to
• mandare a = to send to
• dire a = to say (something) to
• arrivare a = to arrive to
• chiedere a = to ask (something) to
• partecipare a = to part in
• credere a = to believe to
• pensare a = to think of

Verbs followed by di:

• discutere di = to discuss something
• fidarsi di = to trust
• avere bisogno di = to need
• avere voglia di = to want
• lamentarsi di = to complain about
• interessarsi di = to be interested in

Verbs followed by da:

• dipendere da = to depend on
• scendere da = to get off something
• sporgersi da = to lean out of something

As soon as you start chatting with native Italian speakers, you will hear the word comunque a lot. In fact, this is one of the most common Italian conjunctions. These words bring ideas and sentences together, and make conversations smoother and more coherent.

In same cases, comunque requires the subjunctive tense (Comunque tu voglia tornare a casa, io ti seguirò – However you want to go home, I’ll follow you.). Nevertheless, it is also commonly used with the indicative tense, especially in the spoken language.

What does comunque mean?

Although many Italian dictionaries translate this word as “however”, it has different meanings, based on the context of each sentence. Most importantly, do not forget that languages, including Italian, are continually evolving and changing, and new nuances of meaning are often introduced.

Here you can find a comprehensive list of all the meanings of this word, and some examples to help you understand how and when you should use it. On top of that, practice makes perfect, and you will soon master this conjunction and sound like a native speaker!

 

Meaning 1: Anyway, In any case

• Non puoi aiutarmi? Grazie comunque. (You cannot help me? Thanks anyway.)
• Sarà difficile bere meno caffè. Comunque, ci proverò. (It will be hard to drink less coffee. In any case, I’ll try.)

 

Meaning 2: But still, Nevertheless

• Non ci siamo divertiti. Comunque poteva andare peggio. (We didn’t have fun but still, things could be worse.)
• Sono contento tu sia venuto. Comunque potevi avvisarmi. (I’m glad you’re here. Nevertheless, you could have told me.)

 

Meaning 3: However, No matter how

• Comunque vada, sarà un successo. (However it goes, it will be a success).

 

Meaning 4: Anyhow

• Non sono affari tuoi, comunque. (It isn’t any of your business, anyhow.)

 

Meaning 5: Either way

• Non importa, non volevo comprarlo comunque. (It doesn’t matter, I didn’t want to buy it either way.)

 

Meaning 6: Besides

• Non vogliamo uscire. E comunque, piove. (We don’t want to o out. Besides, it’s raining.)

Just like Italian filler words, Italian exclamations are an essential part of spoken Italian. They are used to express a wide range of emotions, from happiness to disappointment. They often emphasise an idea or an opinion. Most importantly, sometimes, a simple word can summarise a whole concept or phrase.

Italian exclamations (or interjections) often come from regional dialects, and their use can vary from region to region. If your goal is to become fluent, especially in your conversational skills, it’s very important that you familiarise with these words, as you’d be hearing them a lot if you spent time around Italians!

If you have any Italian friends, you may already be familiar with these exclamations. Using them will make you sound more natural and closer to the way a native Italian would talk.

Are you ready to speak like a real Italian? If so, let’s learn how to convey a feeling, an idea or a whole sentence, just by saying a very short word!

 

An exquisitely Italian exclamation: meno male!

This expression is used when you want to express relief about you a bad situation or event that has been avoided, in other words, it’s like saying ‘Thank goodness’.

“Sono andato in macchina fino a Milano, ma non c’era traffico!” (“I drove to Milan, but there was no traffic at all!”)

“Meno male!”  (“Thank goodness!”)

Let’s have a look at some examples!

• “Non sei ancora pronto? Dai!“ (You’re not ready yet? C’mon!)
• “Cosa dovremmo fare questa sera?” “Boh!” (“What should we do tonight?“ “I don’t know!“)
• “Non abbiamo ancora finito. Torneremo a casa fra 40 minuti.” “Uffa!” (“We’re not done yet. We’ll come home in 40 minutes.“ “Oh no!“)
• “Allora, pensi che la tua squadra vincerà la partita?” “Figurati!” (“So, do you think your team is going to win this match?” “Absolutely not!”)
• “Dunque, cosa ne pensi di questo problema?” “Bah!” (“So, what do you think about this issue?” “Meh!”)

What does insomma mean?

You may have already heard the word “insomma” several times. It is indeed one of the most used Italian filler words. It can have different meanings based on the context. This means that insomma does not have a single definition, and its use may not be as intuitive as other conversational words.

Here you can find a list of all the mean uses of insomma. Since Italian filler words are mainly used in the spoken language, it is not uncommon to find additional meanings. In other words, get ready to hear your Italian friends saying insomma at least once in every conversation!

In short, all in all

The first and primary meaning of insomma is “long story short”. Not surprisingly, insomma literally means “in sum”. For example, you could use it when you want to sum up a very long story you just told. Moreover, you can say insomma when you don’t want to share too many details about something that happened.

• Insomma, la mia festa di compleanno è stata divertente! (All in all, my birthday party was fun)
• Insomma, ci siamo sposati due anni fa (In short, we got married two years ago)

Basically, in other words

Similar to the previous meaning, insomma can be used to sum up a conversation, a state or a situation. If you wish to emphasise your idea or opinion, insomma is the right word to use.

• Quell’uomo era antipatico e avaro. Insomma, una cattiva persona. (That man was unpleasant and greedy. Basically, a bad person.)
• Abbiamo bisogno di una persona saggia. Insomma, di te. (We need a wise person. In other words, we need you)

Well

Every language has its own filler words. For example, in English, we usually say “well” when we want to start a conversation or change the topic. In Italian, you can get the same result by using the word insomma.

• Insomma, cosa facciamo oggi? (Well, what are we going to do today?)
• Insomma, come sta tua madre? (So, how’s your mother?)

To express your feelings

There are cases where it is impossible to translate insomma into another language. This happens mainly when it is used to emphasise a particular word or to show exasperation or discomfort.

• Insomma, basta! (Alright, that’s enough!)
• Ma insomma, che noia! (For goodness’ sake, how boring!)

Sometimes, you are too anxious, angry and frustrated to say much else. If you wish to express this feeling in Italian, you can just exclaim: “Insomma!”. It does not really mean anything, but it is a popular way for Italians to translate their bad feelings into words.

To answer a question (whilst trying to be polite)

Insomma is widely used in spoken Italian. It often serves as a shorthand when someone is not really willing to answer a question. It is also a universal, laconic answer. If you don’t like or enjoy something, you can use it to let other people know without sounding too rude.

• “Allora, ti piace questa torta?”. “Insomma…” (“So, do you like this cake?”. “So-so…”)

In this case, for example, you may not like that cake, and yet you do not want to sound completely rude. By using insomma, you are letting other people know your opinion, but you are not explicitly saying that you would rather not eat that cake.

• “Ti stai divertendo a questa festa?”. “Insomma…” (“Are you enjoying this party?”. “So-so…”)

If you answer with “insomma”, the other person will immediately understand that you don’t really like that party. Basically, this word allows you not to say it directly or to provide a reason why you don’t like it.

• “Allora, come sono andate le vacanze?”. “Insomma…” (“So, did you enjoy your holiday?”. “So-so…”)

In this case, maybe you enjoyed your holidays, but they were not as great as you wished them to be. By using insomma, you are subtly implying this, and you do not have to add any more explanation to your answer.

“How are you?” “Not so bad…”

If you ask your Italian friends how they are feeling, most of them might answer with “insomma”. As a general rule, this filler word is used to express that you are OK, but not that great really. When accompanied by a laconic shrug, it also has an ironic meaning (for example, you are clearly having a good time, but you are pretending you are not).

• “Come stai?”. “Mah, insomma…” (“How are you?”. “So-so…”)
• “Come va la dieta?”. “Insomma…” (“How your diet going?” “So-so…”)

In the second example, you can use insomma if someone asks you about your diet, while you have a chocolate cookie in your hands. Alternatively, you can just hide the cookie!

Insomma, you are ready!

Now you know all the secrets of the word insomma. You are ready to surprise your Italian friends with your knowledge of Italian filler words! Insomma, you are now one step closer to mastering this language!

What is an Italian filler word?

In linguistics, fillers are words or sounds that are prevalently used in spoken conversations. They are used by the person who is speaking to signal to others that he or she needs a pause. They are thus a way to indicate that you have not finished speaking yet, but you may need a few seconds to reorganise your thoughts.

Each language has its own fillers. Like any other parts of the spoken language, filler words tend to evolve and change time by time. Consequently, it is impossible to list all the currently existing fillers. On the other hand, they are usually not taught in grammar books. The best way to learn them is to use them as a regular part of your conversations, while you practise the language. Another good idea is to focus on how native speakers use fillers and, if necessary, to ask them to explain their usage.

Italian is indeed a beautiful language, with words of any kind. It is thus not surprising if Italians often used some filler words. They are undoubtedly an essential key to master Italian, and soon you may find yourself using Italian filler words without knowing it!

Why it is important to use filler words in Italian?

There are a few grammar books that will teach you about Italian filler words. However, they are one of the most critical parts of each spoken conversation.

If you are wondering why you should use Italian filler words, we can give you three essential reasons:

1. To sound more natural

If you are learning a foreign language, your goal is to master it at the point that people will not believe you are not a native speaker. While you need perseverance and patient to learn Italian grammar and vocabulary, it is only by using filler words that you will genuinely and immediately sound natural. In other words, they make learning and speaking Italian real.

2. They can help you understand the context of a conversation.

Having a proper conversation with a native Italian speaker is undoubtedly more difficult than studying the language through books. Italian is particularly rich in words that, although they are supposed to be synonyms, can have different meanings depending on the context.

By using and understanding filler words, you can easily have a grasp of the context of every conversation.

3. They give you time to organise your thought

If you are still trying to improve your Italian vocabulary, you may need some time to find the best words to use. On the other hand, you don’t want your Italian friends to believe that you are still not confident enough in your speaking skills. By using filler words, you can have time to express yourself properly, and you will even look like someone who really knows how to use the language!

What are the Italian filler words?

We can divide Italian filler words into three different categories, based on their position within a conversation.

Starters (Iniziatori)

As the name suggests, these filler words are used to start a sentence or a conversation, and they are followed by a comma. They come in handy when the speaker cannot provide an immediate answer to something that he has been asked, or to start a conversation and to introduce a new topic.

For example:

• Beh, cosa facciamo domani? (So, what are we doing tomorrow?)
• Fammi pensare… potremmo andare in spiaggia. (Let me think… we may go to the beach.)
• Sai, preferirei restare in città. (You know, I’d rather stay in town.)
• Mah, come preferisci. Senti, allora andiamo a giocare a calcio. (Meh, as you prefer. Listen, let’s go play football instead.)
• Onestamente, mi sembra proprio una buona idea! (Honestly, I think it’s a beautiful idea!)
• Dunque, ci vediamo domani. (So, I’ll see you tomorrow.)

Medians (Mediani)

As you may have guessed, medians are usually found in the middle of a conversation. They thus come in handy when you cannot find the right word to use or the proper thing to say next.

Since there is not proper grammar rule to follow when using filler words, you can hear your Italian friends using medians at the beginning or at the end of a sentence as well.

For example:

• Non mi va di venire al ristorante. Diciamo che non ho molta fame. (I don’t want to go to the restaurant. I mean, I’m not hungry.)
• Sono preoccupato. Nel senso, non so cosa fare. (I’m worried. I mean, I don’t know what to do.)
• Siamo andati a Firenze. Tutto sommato, ci siamo divertiti. (We went to Florence. After all, we had fun.)
• Abbiamo preso un caffè insieme. Allora, le ho chiesto il suo numero. (We had a coffee together. Then, I asked for her number.)
• Allora, andiamo dal dottore? (So, shall we go to the doctor?)

Finalizzatori (Finalizers)

There is always a reason to use filler words. Even at the end of a sentence or of a conversation, you may wish to emphasise your ideas.

For example:

• In conclusione, vorrei ringraziare tutti i miei amici. (In conclusion, I’d like to thank all my friends.)
• Bene, penso andrò a casa. (Well, I think I’ll go home.)
• Non puoi aiutarmi? Vabbè, non preoccuparti. (You cannot help me? Whatever, don’t worry about it.)
• Adesso lavati le mani e fai i compiti, ok? (Now, go wash your hands and do your homework, OK?)
• Comunque, è stata una bella serata. (However, it was a great night.)

When learning a new language, a useful trick to start talking straight away is to learn the most commonly used words, that way you’ll be able to say and ask for things and have a basic conversation with the locals.

How many times do we use use words like ‘nice’, ‘good’ and ‘beautiful’ to describe people and things and to comment on food, films, music etc.?

This article will explain how to say beautiful in Italian and all the related words you need to know!

La Vita è Bella: how to use the word ‘bello’

The main translation for the word ‘beautiful’ is bello/a (depending if it refers to a masculine or a feminine noun). Think of the famous film by Roberto Benigni, titled ‘La vita è bella’ (Life is beautiful), where the word bella (beautiful) ends with an ‘a’ to agree with the word vita, which is feminine.

Bello in Italian means attractive, pretty, good looking, handsome, so it’s the right word to use anytime you’re talking about appearance (e.g. a beautiful house, a beautiful car, a beautiful girl etc.).

However, in Italian there are other similar words, which in English you would translate with ‘good’, but which in Italian have different meanings and usage.

Let’s have a look at them.

Bello, buono, bene, bravo: differences and how to use them

When translating ‘good’ or ‘beautiful’ from English, it’s often easy to get confused with the Italian equivalents: bello, buono, bene and bravo. That’s why it’s important to learn how to these words in the right context, in order to sound as natural as possible when talking Italian.

BELLO

Bello means beautiful, good looking, and is used to describe the appearance (a person, a house, a car etc.).

Che bella macchina! What a beautiful car!
Il mio nuovo vicino di casa è molto bello. My new neighbour is very good looking.

BUONO

Buono is mainly used to talk about food which tastes good, or to describe a person that is kind or generous.

Questa pasta è molto buona. This pasta is really good.
Mio fratello è buono. My brother is good (as in, a good person).

BENE

Bene means well. For example, you would use this word when you want to say you’re well, or when something is going well.

Come stai? Bene grazie. How are you? I’m good (well) thank you.
Il corso di italiano sta andando bene. The Italian course is going well.

BRAVO

Bravo means good at doing something or well behaved.

Sono bravo a suonare la chitarra. I’m good at playing the guitar.
Oggi sei stato proprio bravo! Today you’ve been really good.

How to use ‘bello’ to express pleasure

If you want to express pleasure about something, someone or about doing something, the key word to use is bello, followed by an infinitive:

È bello andare in vacanza. It’s nice to go on holiday.
È bello conoscere nuove persone. It’s nice to meet new people.

If you want to express admiration, use the phrase ‘che bello’:

Che bella gonna! What a nice skirt!
Che bella giornata! What a nice day!

Note: the expression ‘che bello’ on its own means how lovely!

Mistakes in the use of bello, buono, bene and bravo.

 Here’s some common mistakes in the use of these 4 words:

Questo vino è molto bene. This wine is really good. (you should say BUONO)
Casa mia è buona. My house is nice/beautiful. (you should say BELLA)
Come stai? Sto buono. How are you? I’m good. (you should say BENE)

If you are trying your best to learn Italian, you should never forget the importance of learning Italian customs.

“Grazie” is a very important word. It can be used to express gratitude in any context. Whether the waiter is bringing you your food, or if your professor is answering to your questions, this is the perfect word to use. It is then appropriate to say “grazie” both in formal and informal situations.

 

 

How to say “Thank you” in Italian

Always be grateful

Now that you know how to say “thank you” in Italian, it is time to learn some other ways to express your gratitude.

They can be used in several contexts, and they will help you express how thankful you are to your Italian friends.

Here’s your ultimate guide to saying “thank you” in Italian!

 

 

How to respond to “grazie”

There may be occasions where your Italian friends will really want to show their appreciation to you. This is when you must know what to say to answer to “grazie”.