In this lesson, we cover more adverbs and adverbial phrases in Italian.
Given that an adverb can be created easily from a corresponding adjective, it is difficult to cover a vast number of adverbs in the limited space of this book.
Moreover, there are often multiple adverbs that convey a similar meaning. Here are some examples:
1. To say “certainly” or “surely,” you could use one of the following options: “certamente,” “sicuramente,” “certo,” or even “senza dubbio” (undoubtedly).
2. To say “perhaps” or “maybe,” you could use: “forse,” “magari,” or “può essere.”
3. To say “really,” “truly,” or “actually,” you could use: “realmente,” “veramente,” “davvero,” or “in realtà.” Remember that “attualmente,” in Italian, means “currently,” not “actually.”
4. To say “finally,” you could use: “finalmente,” “alla fine,” “infine,” or “per ultimo.”
There are some subtle differences here:
- “per ultimo” means “lastly” (in a list or order).
- “infine” mean “at last”” or “in the end” (often regarding something that is hoped for).
- “finalmente” and “alla fine”” (the former is more formal) can mean “lastly”” (in a list or order) or “in the end” (not necessarily regarding something that is hoped for).
In this section, we list some of the most common adverbs and adverbial phrases in Italian. You will learn more adverbs as you practice Italian by reading, listening, and understanding the general rules explained in this lesson.
Adverbs of Place
| vicino | near | lontano | far |
| davanti | in front ahead | indietro | behind |
| dentro | inside | fuori | outside |
| avanti | in front ahead | ovunque dappertutto | everywhere |
| da nessuna parte | nowhere | a bordo | on board |
| in giro | around | in casa | at home |
Adverbs of Time
| presto | soon early | dopo più tardi | later |
| in tempo | on time | tardi | late |
| prima | before | dopo | after |
| sempre | always | mai | never |
| spesso sovente | often | all’improvviso improvvisamente | suddenly |
| solitamente | usually | poi | then |
| brevemente | briefly | frequentemente | frequently |
| all’inizio | in the beginning | alla fine | in the end |
| tutti i giorni | every day | a giorni alterni | every other day |
| a breve termine | in the short term | a lungo termine | in the long term |
| allora | then at that time | subito | right away immediately |
| avantieri l’altro ieri | the day before yesterday | l’altro ieri sera | the night before last |
| nel frattempo intanto | meanwhile | quotidianamente giornalmente | daily |
| settimanalmente | weekly | mensilmente | monthly |
| ormai | by now | immediatamente | immediately |
Adverbs of Quantity
| molto | very much | solo[1] | only just |
| troppo | too | un po’ | a little |
| di più | more | meno | less |
| tanto | so much | abbastanza | enough |
| quasi | almost | affatto | not at all |
Adverbs of Manner
| come | as like | così | like this |
| insieme | together | separatamente | separately |
| poco a poco | little by little | passo per passo | step by step |
| a voce alta | loudly | di fretta | in a hurry |
| seriamente sul serio | seriously | appena | just barely |
| inoltre peraltro | moreover | faccia a faccia | face to face |
| fortunatamente per fortuna | fortunately | sfortunatamente purtroppo | unfortunately |
Adverbial Expressions
| volentieri | willingly | a malincuore | unwillingly |
| consapevolmente | knowingly | alla moda | fashionably |
| a memoria | by heart | a piedi | on foot |
| sulla strada | on the way | all’estero | overseas abroad |
Other lessons in Level III:
