Italians use little words like allora and anche all the time.
But although they’re little, it can be hard to know what they mean. Especially because when you look them up, you often just get a translation, not how they’re actually used in real life.
Today, you’ll find out what these little words mean, so you can not only understand Italians, but also learn how to link your sentences better with useful words like “but”, “so”, “also”, and “because”.
Allora - So / Then / Well
You can use allora at the start of the sentence to introduce a suggestion or idea. It’s similar to the English word “so”.
For example:
Allora, andiamo? -So, shall we go?
Allora can also be used to show something has happened because of something before. In this context, it’s like the English “then”.
For example:
Piove? Allora prendiamo un taxi. -Is it raining? Then let’s take a taxi
Il tour è gratuito? Allora prenoto subito. -The tour is free? Then I’ll book right away
Allora is also really useful because it can be used to collect your thoughts – perfect for when you need to think about how to say something in Italian. It’s like saying “so” or “well” in English.
For example:
Allora… sono di Napoli, ma vivo a Milano -So…I’m from Naples, but I live in Milan
Allora… mi piace Firenze, ma preferisco Roma -Well… I like Florence, but I prefer Rome
E - And
E is Italian for “and”. Although it’s just one letter, it’s very important. You can use it to link two ideas or items in a list.
For example:
Vado a Firenze e a Roma - I’m going to Florence and to Rome
Prenoto l’hotel e il volo oggi -I’ll book the hotel and the flight today
Just watch out if you see this letter with an accent ( è) because it has a different meaning: it means “is” in Italian .
Anche - Also
Anche is the Italian word for “also”. You can use it to add an extra piece of information or to show what the last thing is in a list, like in English.
For example:
Vorrei un primo, un secondo e anche un dolce -I’d like a first course, main course and also a dessert
Parlo italiano e anche francese -I speak Italian and also French
Anche se - Although
Anche se is Italian for “although”. It’s used to show a contrast between two ideas.
For example:
Andiamo al mercato anche se piove -We’re going to the market although it’s raining
Anche se è lontano, vorrei visitare Sorrento -Although it’s far away, I’d like to visit Sorrento
Come - Like / As / How
As a question word , come means “how”, like in the question:
Come stai? -How are you?
Otherwise, we can translate it with “like” or “as”, as we can see in these examples:
Vorrei una pizza come la tua -I’d like a pizza like yours
Come al solito c’è molto traffico -As usual, there’s a lot of traffic
Così - Like this / That way
Così is the Italian word for “like this” or “that way”. You use così when you want to explain the result or reason behind something you're doing.
For example:
Andiamo presto, così trovo parcheggio -Let’s go early, that way I’ll find parking
Vado a piedi, così vedo la città -I’ll go on foot, that way I’ll see the city
Anzi - Actually
Anzi is like saying “ah actually” in English.
It’s a way to go back and correct what you’ve said.
For example:
Vorrei un cappuccino per favore. Anzi, due -I’d like a cappuccino please. Actually, two
Prenotiamo per le sette. Anzi, per le sette e mezza -Let’s book for 7 pm. Actually, 7:30 pm
Ma - But
Ma is a little Italian word that means “but”. You can use it to introduce something unexpected or different from what you said before.
For example:
Mi piace andare al mare, ma oggi fa freddo -I like to go the seaside, but today it’s cold
Vorrei andare al mercato, ma non adesso -I’d like to go to the market, but not now
Però - But
Però is another Italian word for “but”.
Mostly, però and ma are interchangeable as words for “but” in Italy. However, if you want to understand their differences better, you can see them in more detail on our blogpost “how to say but in Italian” .
Here’s how you might use però in Italian:
Il cibo è buono, però è un po’ costoso -The food is good, but it’s a bit expensive
Vorrei andare al museo, però è chiuso -I’d like to go to the museum, but it’s closed
Perché - Because
Perché means “because” in Italian and it’s really useful to help explain reasons for things.
For example:
Studio l’italiano perché ho parenti italiani -I study Italian because I have Italian relatives
Mi piace la Sicilia perché è molto bella -I like Sicily because it’s very beautiful
Did you know that perché can also mean “why”? You just have to change your voice to show you’re asking a question.
Mentre - While
Mentre is Italian for “while”. You can use it to say that two things happened at the same time.
For example:
Ascolto la musica mentre cucino -I listen to music while I cook
You can also use mentre in Italian to show a contrast between two things.
For example:
Mi piace il mare, mentre mio marito preferisce la montagna -I like the seaside, while my husband prefers the mountains
O - Or
O is the Italian word for “or”. It works really well when you want to talk about different options.
For example:
Andiamo in taxi o in treno? -Shall we go by taxi or by metro?
Devo pagare con carta o con contanti? -Do I have to pay with card or cash?
Oppure - Or
Oppure has a very similar meaning to o in Italian, and in many cases, both words can be used interchangeably to mean "or."
For example:
Possiamo andare al museo, oppure visitare il castello -We can go to the cinema, or visit the castle
Vuoi una birra? Oppure uno spritz? -Do you want a beer? Or a spritz?
Se - If
Se is the Italian for “if”. You can use it to show possibilities, or that something depends on something else to happen.
For example:
Se fa caldo vado al parco -If it’s hot, I’ll go the park
Compro dei souvenirs se ho tempo -I’ll buy souvenirs if I have time
Prima - First / Before
Prima is Italian for “first” or “before”. It’s helpful to show the order of events or if there’s anything you have to do in advance.
Per fare il tour, prima devi prenotare -To do the tour, first you have to book
Dobbiamo fare il check-in prima delle 3 -We have to check-in before 3 pm
Poi - Then
Poi is the Italian word for “then”. You can use it show the order of events.
For example:
Prima andiamo a Pisa, poi a Firenze -First we’re going to Pisa, then to Florence.
Prima facciamo colazione, poi usciamo -First let’s have breakfast, then we’ll go out
Dopo - After
Dopo is Italian for “after”. It’s a really useful word to know when you’re discussing what your plans are for later.
For example:
Dopo cena andiamo in gelateria -After dinner, we’re going to the ice-cream shop
Visitiamo il castello dopo il giro in barca -We’re visiting the castle after the boat ride
Quindi - So / Therefore
Quindi is the Italian word for “so” or “therefore”. It’s used to show something is a consequence of something else.
For example:
Sono italiano, quindi mangio sempre la pizza -I’m Italian, so I always eat pizza
Il ristorante è chiuso, quindi mangiamo a casa -The restaurant is closed, so we’ll eat at home
Infatti - In fact
Infatti is Italian for “in fact”. You might want to say "in fact" when you want to add more detail or clarify something. .
For example:
Questo ristorante è molto buono. Infatti è famoso -This restaurant is very good. In fact, it’s famous
Roma è una città bellissima, infatti ci sono tanti turisti. -Rome is a beautiful city, in fact there are many tourists
What do little Italian words like allora and anche mean?: Review
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Allora - So / Then / Well
You can use allora at the start of a sentence to introduce a suggestion or idea, like the English word “so.”
For example:
Allora, andiamo? -So, shall we go?
-
E – And
E is used to connect words or ideas in a sentence.
For example:
Vado a Firenze e a Roma - I’m going to Florence and to Rome
-
Anche - Also
Anche is the Italian word for “also,” used to add an extra piece of information.
For example:
Parlo italiano e anche francese -I speak Italian and also French
-
Anche se - Although
Anche se is Italian for “although” and introduces a contrast.
For example:
Anche se è lontano, vorrei visitare Sorrento -Although it’s far away, I’d like to visit Sorrento
-
Come - Like / As / How
Come can mean “like/as” or “how” if used as a question.
For example:
Vorrei una pizza come la tua -I’d like a pizza like yours
-
Così - Like this / That way
You use così when you want to explain the result or reason for something.
For example: Andiamo presto, così trovo parcheggio -Let’s go early, that way I’ll find parking
-
Anzi - Actually
Anzi is used when correcting or changing what you just said.
For example:
Prenotiamo per le sette. Anzi, per le sette e mezza -Let’s book for 7 pm. Actually, 7:30 pm
-
Ma - But
Ma introduces something unexpected or different from what was said before.
For example:
Mi piace andare al mare, ma oggi fa freddo -I like going to the seaside, but today it’s cold
-
Però - But
Però is another way to say “but” in Italian, often interchangeable with ma .
For example:
Il cibo è buono, però è un po’ costoso -The food is good, but it’s a bit expensive
-
Perché - Because
Perché is used to explain reasons.
For example:
Studio l’italiano perché ho parenti italiani -I study Italian because I have Italian relatives
-
Mentre - While
Mentre usually shows two actions happening together
For example:
Ascolto musica mentre cucino -I listen to music while I cook
-
O - Or
O is the Italian word for “or” and is used to offer choices.
For example:
Andiamo in taxi o in treno? -Shall we go by taxi or by train?
-
Oppure - Or
Oppure is similar to o . Both words can be used to say “or”.
For example:
Vuoi una birra? Oppure uno spritz? -Do you want a beer? Or a spritz?
-
Se - If
Se can be used to talk about possibilities or conditions.
For example:
Se ho tempo compro dei souvenirs -If I have time, I’ll buy souvenirs
-
Prima - First / Before
Prima is used to show the order of events or actions.
For example:
Per fare il tour prima devi prenotare -To do the tour, first you have to book.
-
Poi - Then
Poi shows the sequence of events.
For example:
Prima andiamo a Pisa, poi a Firenze -First we’re going to Pisa, then to Florence
-
Dopo - After
Dopo is useful when talking about future plans.
For example:
Dopo cena andiamo in gelateria -After dinner, we’re going to the ice cream shop
-
Quindi - So / Therefore
Quindi shows that something is a consequence of something else.
For example:
Il ristorante è chiuso, quindi mangiamo a casa -The restaurant is closed, so we’ll eat at home
-
Infatti - In fact
Infatti confirms or supports what has just been said.
For example:
Questo ristorante è molto buono. Infatti è famoso -This restaurant is very good. In fact, it’s famous
K: Ciao a tutti e benvenuti! Hi everyone and welcome to “Learn Italian with Joy of Languages”.
M: When you’re first learning Italian, it’s normal to speak in shorter sentences, like Mi chiamo Matteo. My name’s Matteo. Vivo a Milano - I live in Milan.
K: But as you start to learn more Italian, you’ll want to speak in a more natural way. So instead of saying lots of separate sentences “staccato style”, you’ll want to start linking your sentences together, with the words you use all the time in your own language, like “but”, “so” and “also”.
Before we get started on some of these useful words, can we ask you a quick favore? If you’re listening to this on your podcast app, could you click the subscribe or follow button? This way you’ll get notified when we release a new episode and you’ll help our podcast grow so we can keep making free lessons like this. Grazie!
M: Today you’ll hear a conversation between Katie and I where we talk about getting ready to go out.
K: We use lots of the common little words that Italians would use in this kind of everyday situation. See if you can hear what they are.
M: Allora, andiamo?
K: Sì, prima vado in bagno
M: Come al solito…
K: E poi mi preparo
M: In che senso?
K: Ah devo anche mandare un’email
M: Quindi quando andiamo?
K: Cinque minuti. Anzi, due!
M: Odio quando dici questo!
K: Matteo asked me
M: Allora, andiamo - So, shall we go? Literally: Allora - so Andiamo - we go
K: So the first word we have is:
M: Allora (x2)
K: Italians use this all the time in all kinds of situations. You could probably play a game to see how many times you hear it in a day in Italy.
M: Since it’s used in lots of different situations, it’s hard to just give one translation for allora, but it usually means “so” or “well”.
K: You can use allora at the start of the sentence to introduce a new topic or suggestion, like when Matteo said:
M: Allora, andiamo? - So, shall we go?
K: Sometimes it’s also just one of those filler words that helps people collect their thoughts, before answering a question, like saying “so” or “well”. For example if I asked Matteo, where are you from, to give himself a bit of thinking time, he might say:
M: Allora… (pause) sono di Napoli, ma vivo a Milano - Sooo, or Weeell, I’m from Naples, but I live in Milan.
Allora - “Sooo”, or “weeell”
Sono - I’m
di - from
Napoli, - Naples
ma - but
vivo - I live
a - at
Milano - Milan
K: After Matteo suggested we leave, I said:
M: Sì, prima vado in bagno - Yes, first I’ll go to the bathroom. Literally:
Sì - yes
Prima - first
Vado - I go
In - in
Bagno - bathroom
K: To say “first” in Italian, we use prima (x2)
M: Another example is that you might find out that for your tour around Italy, prima devi prenotare - first you have to book.
Prima – first
Devi – you must, or you have to
Prenotare – book
K: Matteo is used to me being late. Which is why, when I said I had to go to the bagno , he replied:
M: Come al solito… - As usual
Come - as
Al solito - usual
K: Here, come means “as” or “like”, when comparing similar things. In this case, we’re comparing things to usual = AS usual; LIKE usual: come al solito (x2).
Another example is: vorrei una pizza come la tua – I’d like a pizza like yours
Vorrei – I’d like
Una pizza – a pizza
Come – like, in the sense of “similar” or “the same”
La tua – yours
K: You might already know that come also means “how”, for example in come stai, how are you?
K: Then I said to Matteo
M: E poi mi preparo - And then I’ll get ready. Literally:
E - and
Poi - then
Mi - myself
Preparo - I prepare
K: The next little word we used is poi .
M: It means “then” in the sense of first I did this, then I did this.
K: A bit like I was saying, prima vado in bagno. First I’ll go to the bathroom. E poi mi preparo - And then I’ll get ready.
K: Since Matteo was still annoyed that I wasn’t ready, he asked:
In che senso? - What do you mean? Literally:
In - in
Che - what
Senso - sense
K: Then I said:
M: Ah devo anche mandare un’email - ah, I also have to send an email. Literally:
Devo - I must
Anche - also
Mandare - send
Un’ - an
Email - email
K: Anche usually means “also”.
For example, you could say:
M: Parlo italiano e anche francese - I speak Italian and also French
K: And you could use anche in a list as a nice way of showing what the last thing in the list is, like we do in English.
M: For example, I might say Vorrei un primo, un secondo e anche un dolce - I’d like a first course, a main course and also a dessert. That would be very realistic actually. So literally it’s:
Vorrei - I’d like
Un primo - a first
Un secondo - a second
E - and
Anche - also
Un dolce - a sweet
K: Then Matteo asked
M: Quindi quando andiamo? - So when are we going? Literally:
Quindi - so
Quando - when
Andiamo - we go
K: Quindi is like “so” or “therefore” specifically when we want to express a consequence. For example here, I have to send an email and, as a consequence of the email, Matteo wants to know “so” – quindi – when are we going? – quando andiamo?
M: I could also say, sono italiano, quindi mangio sempre la pizza - I’m Italian, therefore, as a consequence, I always eat pizza.
Sono – I am
Italiano – Italian
Quindi – so or therefore
Mangio – I eat
Sempre – always
La pizza – pizza
M: It’s a stereotype, but in my case, it’s true!
K: I finally tried to give Matteo a time frame, so said:
M: Cinque minuti. Anzi, due! - Five minutes. Actually, two!
Cinque - five
Minuti - minutes
Anzi - actually
Due - two
K: Anzi is a really useful word if you want to say “ah actually” as a way of going back and correcting what you’ve said.
M: For example, you could say Vorrei un cappuccino per favore. I’d like a cappuccino please. Anzi, due - Actually, two. Vorrei un cappuccino per favore. Anzi, due.
K: But Matteo’s used to my famous two minutes, which of course aren’t really two minutes, so he said
M: Odio quando dici questo! - I hate when you say this.
Odio - I hate
Quando - when
Dici - you say
Questo - this
K: You’ve heard quite a few different useful little words in this episode. Let’s see how many you can remember.
K: What’s the Italian word for “so” which can also mean “well”? It’s used to introduce new topics and also just give you some time to think.
[...]
M: Allora (x2). For example, Allora… (pause) sono di Napoli, ma vivo a Milano. – Sooo or Weeell, I’m from Naples, but I live in Milan.
K: What’s the other word for “so” which introduces a consequence? Kind of like “therefore”?
[...]
M: Quindi (x2) For example, sono italiano, quindi mangio sempre la pizza. I’m Italian, so (or therefore) I always eat pizza.
K: What about the word for “first”?
[...]
M: Prima (x2) . For example, prima vado in bagno - first I’ll go to the bathroom.
K: And the word for “then”?
[...]
M: Poi (x2) . For example, e poi mi preparo - and then I’ll get ready
K: What’s a word meaning “like” or “as”?
[...]
M: Come (x2). For example, come al solito, – as usual
K: And finally, what’s a good word for “actually” when you change your mind about something?
[...]
M: Anzi (x2), for example: vorrei un cappuccino per favore. Anzi, due - I’d like a cappuccino please. Actually, two.
K: Let’s hear the whole conversation again: M: Allora, andiamo?
K: Sì, prima vado in bagno
M: Come al solito…
K: E poi mi preparo
M: In che senso?
K: Ah devo anche mandare un’email
M: Quindi quando andiamo?
K: Cinque minuti. Anzi, due!
M: Odio quando dici questo!
K: There are a few other really useful little words in Italian that we haven’t spoken about in this episode.
M: Words like “but”, “when”, “while”...All words that you’ll need to learn at some point to have everyday conversations in Italian.
K: To see the full list head over to our website by clicking on the link in the description. Or you can go to italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast and search for episode 182.
M: See you next time.
K: Or as we say in Italian.
Alla prossima!
Time to check your understanding and remember everything you just learned! Below you’ll find a mini-quiz and some vocabulary cards to help it all go in.
Quiz: What do little Italian words like allora and anche mean?
How much did you learn? Find out in the quiz!
Click here to take the quiz for this episode: What do little Italian words like allora and anche mean?
Vocabulary
Andiamo presto, così trovo parcheggio = Let’s go early, that way I’ll find parking
Ascolto la musica mentre cucino = I listen to music while I cook
Andiamo in taxi o in treno? = Shall we go by taxi or by train?
Questo ristorante è molto buono. Infatti è famoso = This restaurant is very good. In fact, it’s famous
Per fare il tour prima devi prenotare = To do the tour, first you have to book
Vorrei una pizza come la tua = I’d like a pizza like yours
Prima vado in bagno = First I’ll go to the bathroom
Devo anche mandare un’email = I also have to send an email
Poi mi preparo = Then I’ll get ready
Allora… sono di Napoli, ma vivo a Roma = So… I’m from Naples, but I live in Rome
Vorrei un cappuccino. Anzi, due = I’d like a cappuccino. Actually, two
Parlo italiano e anche francese = I speak Italian and also French
