An adverb is a describing word used to add information about a verb, an adjective, a clause, or even another adverb. Unlike adjectives, which agree in gender and number with the noun they are describing, Italian adverbs are invariable.
Let me give you some examples to get an idea of how it works. Here is an Italian phrase where the adverb modifies the verb:
(Translation: “Francesco sings well”)
Note that the direction of the arrows goes from the head word to its dependent word.
Easy, right? Let's now look at an example phrase in which the adverb modifies the adjective:
(Translation: “Very clear pronunciation”)
Now have a look at an Italian phrase where the adverb modifies another adverb:
(Translation: “Giulio talks too fast”)
There are several different types of adverbs in Italian expressing different meanings. We’re going to look at the most common ones. Ready? Let’s get to it now!
Adverbs of frequency tell you how frequently an action takes place. Here is a list:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
spesso | often |
sempre | always |
mai | never |
solitamente, di solito | usually, habitually |
raramente | rarely, seldom |
a volte | at times |
ogni tanto | sometimes, every now and then |
talvolta | sometimes |
Adverbs of degree or quantity add information about an amount or measure. Here are some examples of Italian adverbs of degree:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
molto | a lot, much, very much |
moltissimo | very very much |
poco | a little, little, not much |
abbastanza | enough, sufficiently |
piuttosto | rather, quite |
meno | less |
più | more, most |
soprattutto | mostly, above all |
quasi | almost |
tanto | a lot, so much |
troppo | too much |
un po’ | a little bit |
parecchio | quite a lot |
appena | barely, hardly |
leggermente | slightly, mildly, lightly |
per niente, per nulla | at all |
affatto | at all |
circa | approximately, about |
assai | very, very much |
totalmente | totally |
completamente | completely |
particolarmente | particularly |
interamente | entirely, wholly |
estremamente | extremely |
incredibilmente | incredibly |
notevolmente | remarkably |
straordinariamente | extraordinarily |
veramente | truly |
eccezionalmente | exceptionally |
“Molto”, “poco”, “troppo”, and “tanto” can also be used as adjectives in Italian. When you use them as adverbs, though, remember that they are invariable, and never change their form.
Adverbs of place tell us where something is, or where an action is performed. Here is a list of the most common adverbs of place in Italian:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
qui, qua | here |
lì, là | there, in that place |
intorno, attorno | around |
vicino | near, close |
lontano | far away, distant |
di fronte | in front of |
sopra | on, above |
su | up, on |
sotto | under |
giù | below |
davanti | in front |
avanti | forward, onward |
dietro | behind |
indietro | backwards |
dentro | inside |
fuori | out, outside |
a sinistra | on the left |
a destra | on the right |
oltre | further, beyond |
via | away |
dappertutto, ovunque | everywhere |
da qualche parte | somewhere |
da nessuna parte | nowhere |
altrove | somewhere else, elsewhere |
accanto | nearby, next to |
“Qui” and “qua” can be used interchangeably. The same goes with “lì” and “là.”
Adverbs of time tell you when an action takes place. Here is a list:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
ora | now |
adesso | now, right now, in this instant |
attualmente | currently, at the moment |
intanto | in the meantime, meanwhile |
infine | in the end, ultimately |
finora | so far, till now |
prima | earlier, previously, before |
tardi | late |
già | already, yet |
ancora | still |
nuovamente | again |
tuttora | still |
dopo | after, afterwards, later |
poi | then, after that |
subito | immediately, as soon as possible |
immediatamente | immediately, right away |
successivamente | subsequently |
presto | soon, early |
stavolta | this time |
ormai | by this time |
allora | at that time, back then |
ieri | yesterday |
oggi | today |
domani | tomorrow |
dopodomani | the day after tomorrow |
l’altro ieri | the day before yesterday |
ogni giorno | every day |
stamattina | this morning |
stanotte | tonight |
stasera | this evening |
The Italian adverb “presto” is identical to the Spanish adverb “presto,” but they have a completely different meaning. As mentioned previously, “presto” means “soon” in Italian, while the same word in Spanish means “quickly.”
Simply put, adverbs of manner describe how an action is carried out. Check out the table below for a list of the most common Italian adverbs of manner:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
bene | well, good |
male | badly, wrongly |
meglio | better |
peggio | worse |
volentieri | with pleasure |
apposta | on purpose |
meno | less, fewer |
così | like this |
praticamente | practically |
perfettamente | perfectly |
personalmente | personally, in person |
ufficialmente | officially |
esattamente | exactly, precisely |
diversamente | differently, otherwise |
direttamente | directly |
decisamente | decidedly |
esclusivamente | exclusively |
chiaramente | clearly |
principalmente | primarily, mainly |
fortunatamente | luckily, fortunately |
profondamente | deeply |
semplicemente | simply |
effettivamente | actually |
facilmente | easily |
As you can see from the above examples, most adverbs of manner end in “-mente” in Italian.
Adverbs of probability are used to indicate how likely something is to happen. The table below shows some of the main Italian adverbs of probability:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
probabilmente | probably |
forse | perhaps, maybe, possibly |
magari | maybe |
eventualmente | possibly, potentially |
possibilmente | if possible, possibly |
presumibilmente | presumably |
certamente | certainly |
sicuramente | surely |
ovviamente | obviously |
evidentemente | evidently |
Affirmation and negation adverbs are used to accept or refuse something, and show your approval or disapproval. Here are some of the most common Italian affirmation adverbs:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
sì | yes |
sicuramente | surely |
di sicuro | for sure |
certamente, di certo | certainly |
ovviamente | obviously |
davvero | really, in fact |
esattamente | exactly |
proprio | exactly, precisely |
indubbiamente | undoubtedly |
senza dubbio | without a doubt, no doubt |
Let’s now move on to negation adverbs. See some examples below:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
No | no, no way |
Non | not, neither |
Né... né | neither... nor |
Neanche, nemmeno, neppure | not even |
Interrogative adverbs introduce a question. Here they are:
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
dove | where |
quando | when |
come | how |
perché | why |
come mai | how come |
quanto | how much |
Table: Some examples of Italian interrogative adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs connect two clauses. We've gathered the main Italian conjunctive adverbs in the table below. Check it out!
Italian adverb | translation |
---|---|
invece | instead |
inoltre | moreover, furthermore |
purtroppo | unfortunately, regretfully |
altrimenti | otherwise |
cioè | that is, that is to say |
perché | because |
pure | also, as well |
anche | also, as well, besides |
comunque | anyway, either way, in any case |
piuttosto | rather than, instead of, more likely |
appunto | precisely |
innanzitutto | first of all |
dopodiché | thereafter |
insomma | in short, in conclusion |
finalmente | at last |
infine | finally, eventually |
Feeling overwhelmed by all these new little words and expressions? Study as much as you can until you feel more comfortable. With a little practice, Italian adverbs will begin to come naturally!