Addirittura is one of those words that pops up often in conversation but doesn’t have a direct translation in English.
So, what does it mean?
It’s an adverb, and an emotional one: a word Italians use to show surprise, disbelief, or to emphasize that something is beyond what you’d expect.
It doesn’t translate neatly into one word in English, but it often means things like:
“Really?”, “Even that?”, or “Can you believe it?”
Let’s look at a few examples:
Ha mangiato dodici gelati.
— He ate twelve gelatos.
Addirittura?
— Seriously? No way!
Lui lavora anche di domenica.
— He even works on Sundays.
Addirittura la domenica!
— Even Sundays?!
Era addirittura in anticipo.
— He was even early. (Can you believe it?)
In short
Use addirittura when something goes beyond what you’d expect — usually in a surprising or exaggerated way.
Remember: the best way to learn how to use addirittura (or any similar untranslatable word) is to see how Italians actually use it. Learning in context is key in these cases!
Remember: the best way to learn how to use addirittura (or any similar untranslatable word) is to see how Italians actually use it. Learning in context is key in these cases!
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