How to say “Really” in Italian?
As simple as it is, “really” in Italian can be translated as davvero, veramente, or proprio. Just like in English, these words can be found in a wide variety of contexts, and that’s why I want to show you how you can use them.
As you might have noticed, both davvero and veramente share the same root of the world vero (true, real). In fact, they are quite similar in their meaning and use, while proprio has a different application.
Let me start with some examples:
Questa agenda mi piace davvero tanto, penso che la comprerò.
I really like this diary, I think I will buy it.
Veramente sei andata fino al lago in bici?
Did you really cycle all the way to the lake?
Sei proprio bella oggi.
You’re really pretty today.
“Really” in Italian
Davvero
The most direct and widely used translation of “really” is davvero. It is used in the same way as in English:
- To express surprise:
Ho iniziato a fare yoga tutti i giorni.
I started doing yoga every day.
Davvero?!
Really?!
- To emphasize something:
Sono davvero stanca oggi.
I am really tired today.
Sometimes, you might hear the expression per davvero, which means “for real”:
Lo dici per davvero?
Are you saying it for real?
Veramente
Another common way to say “really” in Italian is veramente. It is basically a synonym of davvero, therefore they can be used interchangeably and in the same contexts:
- To express surprise:
Sai che Giorgia e Carlo si sono sposati?
Did you know that Giorgia and Carlo got married
Veramente? Non lo sapevo.
Really? I didn’t know.
- To emphasize something:
Questo vestito ti sta veramente bene.
This dress looks really good on you.
When veramente is used at the beginning of a sentence, it means “actually”, as in the example below:
Ho detto a Sabrina che stasera andiamo al cinema con lei.
I told Sabrina that we would go to the cinema with her tonight.
Veramente, io ho già un altro impegno.
Actually, I am already busy.
Proprio
This Italian word has a different meaning depending on whether it is used as a possessive adjective or as an adverb, which is the reason why it is important that you learn how to use proprio in Italian.
When it is used as a possessive adjective, proprio replaces third-person singular (suo, sua, suoi, sue) and plural (loro) forms to indicate ownership more clearly, like “one’s own” in English. For example:
Giulia ama il proprio lavoro.
Giulia loves her own job.
When it is used as an adverb, proprio can still take on several different meanings, depending on the context. Its most typical use is to express emphasis but it can also be translated as “just” or “exactly”.
However, unlike davvero and veramente, it cannot be used to express surprise.
È proprio vero!
It’s really true!
Questo caffè è proprio buono.
This coffee is really good.
Ho finito di lavorare proprio adesso.
I finished working just now.
