Fortunately, beginner-level Italian isn't just about memorizing verb conjugations. When searching for the most useful Italian words to learn, you can find lists of nouns like child (child) (car), food (meal), work (work) and so on. These are good if you are a total beginner or preschooler. But they are really the words most useful of all?
In everyday life, Italians use some words repeatedly, in various types of contexts.
Here are 12 of the useful Italian words you need to know that will help you better understand – and even participate in – everyday Italian conversation.
Allora
Okay then, where should we start? It would have to be with this little word that is constantly used and has a beautiful sound. You may have heard it in... well, almost every other phrase spoken by Italians.
What is that word they resort to so often? It must mean something very important, right? Well, at the risk of disappointing you, allora It simply means 'then'.
But of course no word is as simple as it seems. Think about all the multiplicity of meanings that 'then' can have in Portuguese: allora works the same way.
And if you want to be sassy (and who doesn’t want to learn how to be sassy in Italian?) it can also mean “so what?”
Then a
Make no mistake: this word has nothing to do with the number 15 (fifteen) and everything to do with helping the flow of speech.
Quindi has two main meanings. The first is 'then', or more formally, 'therefore'.
– Sta per piovere, Than we wear an ombrello.
- It's about to rain, So take an umbrella.
And the second is 'then', as in next or after.
– Ho cenato, Than we uscita sleep.
- I had dinner, So then I left.
Go bene
This is one of the most important phrases you need to know before coming to Italy. It means 'ok' or 'all right', and you'll hear it approximately every five seconds.
Go bene literally translates as 'it's going well', but it could be translated to “alright” or the interjections “ok”, “right” or “of course”, for example.
But just like in Portuguese, you can use it in many other ways in Italian.
And sometimes “va bene” doesn’t mean anything.
You'll hear it grouped with words like allora and quindi to fill gaps in conversation: “allora… quindi… va bene”.
So much
There are many ways to say 'many' in Italian and this is one word you really need to master. It's not as simple as it might seem at first glance, but once you get the hang of this grammar, your Italian will take a leap forward.
It is quite simple to use so much as an adjective, as long as you know that the form of the changes (both/a/i/e ) depending on the noun (whether masculine or feminine, singular or plural).
See what we mean in the following examples:
- We didn't wait so long (masculine singular).
- We don't have much time.
- There's so much snow in the mountains (feminine singular).
- There is a lot of snow in the mountains.
- Ho speso so much soldi (masculine plural).
- I spent a lot of money.
- I sleep so much in the south (feminine plural)
- There are many apples on the tree.
Here
Here we go – another one of those complicated words that don’t translate easily into English.
You will hear here all the time. Meaning roughly 'here' or 'there', (as expected) there it is!
Just like in Portuguese we fill our speech with small phrases like “aqui está”, “let’s go” and so on.
– Eccoci, we finally arrive.
- Here we are, we are finally here!
Ecco qua! A wonderful example to clarify the Italian expression that is often translated: ready!
Anyway
Anyway is one of those words that makes more sense when you hear it in context – and that's useful, since in Italy you'll hear it a lot.
It is used in a few different ways. One of the most common is to mean 'anyway' or 'in any case'.
– Non sai dov'è? Thank you for communicating.
- Don't you know where it is? Thanks anyway.
- Sarà difficile trovarne… Communicate, ci proverò.
- It's going to be hard to find them... Anyway, I'll try.
– Hai fatto bene a venire, communque potevi avvisarmi.
- I'm glad you came, though, you could have warned me.
Anyway It can also mean “in any way”, “regardless”, “no matter what”, “even so”, “just like that” or “finally”.
I imagine
You know when someone starts telling a long story about something that happened to them and you don't really have anything to add, but you want to show that you're listening?
This kind of situation can be strange in a foreign language.
But instead of an uncomfortable silence, or a smile or wave, here's a helpful word that shows you're listening and keeps the 'conversation' going: I imagine.
Although you can translate it as “I imagine”, it is used to mean something like “I can imagine!” or “I bet!” and expresses sympathy with whatever the speaker is talking about (or more likely, complaining about).
- I can't believe that Abbiano chiuso on the road. Che traffico! ( I can't believe they closed the road. The traffic was terrible!)
– I imagine!
instead
Even if you've just started learning Italian, chances are you've already encountered the word ma ('but').
There is more than one way to contradict yourself or others, especially in Italian. This word is a commonly used alternative: instead (pronounced “inˈvetʃe”).
In its simplest sense, it also means 'but'. It can also mean “instead”, “however”, “instead”, “in return”, “on the contrary” or “on the other hand”.
– I thought he was leaving, instead he was an anchor there.
- I thought she was gone, but she was still there.
Appearance
You may have noticed that Italians say wait up all the time. The meaning is perfectly clear: waiting!
- Aspetta, il semaforo e rosso.
– Wait, the light is red
Appearance It can also mean “to!” or, “peraí!”, in Brazilian slang.
Magari
This common expression derives from a Greek word meaning blessed or happy, which is a clue to its first meaning: "I hope so!" You can use magari to talk about things that are desired, desired, or expected.
– Magari andrà tutto bene.
– I hope everything is fine.
You can even use it to emphasize how much you want something, usually if someone is offering it to you: it's like responding to their question with 'you bet!'
– Ti piacerebbe andare in Italia?
– Magari!
– Would you like to go to Italy?
– I certainly would!
But maybe can be used as “I wish” or (not true) “I wish”.
Cabbage
What a bunch of cabbage! Who would have thought this would be such a useful word?
In a figurative sense, cavolo expresses something negative, such as “damn!”, “curse!” or “crap”, if used more informally.
Generally serves as a milder substitute for fuck (vulgar word). But more than just a substitute, cavalo has a certain charm of its own.
– Che cavalo vuoi?
- What the hell do you want? (literally: “What cabbage do you want?”)
Cavolo has many uses.
– I don’t care about a horse!
- I don't give a damn!
…or you can shout to yourself to express your surprise or frustration.
– Ho vinto la lotteria!
– Cavolo!
– I won the lottery!
- Wow!
Boh
Is that a word or is it just noise? Either way, you need to know what that means.
It's 'I don't know', but in its most informal form – like when we shorten the sentence to 'I don't know'.
– Di dov'è?
– Boh, go Puglia.
- Where is she from?
– I don't know, maybe Puglia.
Illustration: Depositphotos
