Anzi is one of those little Italian words that doesn’t have a one-to-one translation in English, and that’s why it confuses so many learners. Yet Italians use it all the time, especially when speaking: it’s a quick way to correct yourself, contradict someone or say something even stronger.
In short
- Anzi (pronounced AHN-tsee) has no single English translation. Most of the time it means actually or on the contrary.
- Use it to contradict: Non sono stanca, anzi! (I’m not tired, quite the opposite!)
- To change your mind: Un caffè, anzi no, un tè. (A coffee, actually no, a tea.)
- To go one step further: È brava, anzi bravissima. (She’s good, actually amazing.)
- Don’t confuse it with anziché (instead of) or invece (instead).
What does anzi mean?
Depending on the context and your tone of voice, anzi can mean actually (the most common translation), on the contrary, rather or not at all. Here are its four uses at a glance:
| Use | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Correct or contradict | actually, on the contrary | Non mi disturbi, anzi! |
| Change your mind | actually no, no wait | Il numero 4, anzi no, il 5. |
| Go one step further | in fact, even, better yet | È bella, anzi bellissima. |
| Polite reply | not at all, quite the opposite | Ti disturbo? No, anzi! |
1. Anzi to contradict: “actually”, “on the contrary”
Use it when you want to say the opposite of what was just said, or what someone might think.
- Marco non è superficiale. Anzi, secondo me è molto intelligente.
Marco isn’t shallow. Actually, I think he’s really smart. - Non mi disturbi, anzi, grazie per avermi chiamato!
You’re not bothering me. On the contrary, thanks for calling!
2. Anzi no: “actually, no”, “no wait”
Sometimes you start saying something and change your mind halfway. That’s when anzi no comes in handy.
- Facciamo l’esercizio numero 4, anzi no, il numero 5!
Let’s do exercise 4, actually no, number 5! - Andiamo alla Pizzeria Borghese, anzi no, da Pippo.
Let’s go to Pizzeria Borghese, no wait, let’s go to Pippo’s. - Un Bloody Mary, per favore. Anzi no, un mojito!
A Bloody Mary, please. Actually, make that a mojito!
3. Anzi to go one step further: “in fact”, “better yet”
Here anzi adds something stronger than what you just said.
- Sei brava, anzi, bravissima!
You’re good. Actually, you’re amazing! - È bella, anzi, bellissima.
She’s pretty. In fact, she’s stunning.
4. No, anzi!: “not at all”
As a quick, friendly reply, no, anzi means “not at all, quite the opposite”. It’s very Italian, a bit like figurati.
- Ti dispiace se mi siedo qui? No, anzi! Accomodati.
Do you mind if I sit here? Not at all! Have a seat. - Ti disturbo? No, anzi, mi fa piacere sentirti.
Am I bothering you? Not at all, it’s nice to hear from you.
Anzi, anziché or invece?
These three look similar, but they do different jobs.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| anzi | actually, on the contrary | Non è caro, anzi, è economico. (It’s not expensive. Actually, it’s cheap.) |
| anziché | instead of, rather than | Prendo il treno anziché la macchina. (I’ll take the train rather than the car.) |
| invece / invece di | instead, whereas | Volevo la pizza, invece ho preso la pasta. (I wanted pizza, but I got pasta instead.) |
Practice
Complete with anzi, anziché or invece, then open the answers.
- Non sono stanca, ___, ho voglia di uscire!
- Prendiamo un caffè, ___ no, un tè.
- Ho studiato ___ guardare la TV.
- Pensavo fosse simpatico, ___ è antipatico.
- “Ti disturbo?” “No, ___!”
Show the answers
- anzi
- anzi
- anziché (or invece di)
- invece
- anzi
Like this kind of word? Read about another tricky one: cioè.
Practice with my stories
Little words like anzi live in conversation. Reading stories with plenty of dialogue is the fastest way to start using them yourself.
Due Amiche e una Bufera di Neve
Level A1/A2
Costanza and Anna get stuck in a snowstorm, with a surprise.
Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze
Level B1+
Marie moves to Florence, where jewelry making leads to a new life.
Piazzetta Italiana
Level A2/B1
My magazine for learners: real articles about Italian culture and everyday life, with vocabulary and audio.
Frequently asked questions
What does anzi mean in Italian?
Anzi usually means actually or on the contrary. Italians use it to correct what was just said, to change their mind, to add something stronger, or as a polite “not at all”.
How do you use anzi no?
Anzi no means actually, no. Use it when you change your mind in the middle of a sentence: Un caffè, anzi no, un tè.
What is the difference between anzi and anziché?
Anzi means actually or on the contrary. Anziché means instead of or rather than: Prendo il treno anziché la macchina.
Is anzi formal or informal?
Both. You hear it all the time in conversation, but it’s perfectly correct in writing too.
How do you pronounce anzi?
AHN-tsee: the z sounds like ts in cats.
