“Magari” in Italian
Magari in Italian (pronounced ma-GAH-ree) is a very common word with three everyday meanings: “maybe”, a soft suggestion, and, when you say it on its own as a reply, “I wish!” or “I’d love that!”. With the subjunctive it also expresses a wish, and that structure has its own lesson: magari + subjunctive.
| Use | Example | English |
| Maybe | Magari sei solo stanco. | Maybe you are just tired. |
| Soft suggestion | Magari scrivimi quando arrivi. | Maybe text me when you arrive. |
| Reply: I wish! | Magari! | I wish! / I’d love that! |
| Wish + subjunctive | Magari fosse vero! | If only it were true! |
Magari is one of those Italian words with no equivalent in English. The best way to understand its meaning is to see the contexts where it is used and how.
Have a look at these examples, so that you can have an idea of the different uses of this word:
Magari dopo vado in palestra.
I might go to the gym later.
Se non riesci a passare l’esame magari studia meglio.
If you cannot pass the exam maybe you should study better.
Ti prenderanno sicuramente per quel lavoro!
They will surely hire you for that job
Magari!
I wish!
Magari venisse alla festa!
If only she came to the party!
How to use “Magari” in Italian
“Magari” as “Maybe”
Primarily, magari can be used interchangeably with forse (maybe, perhaps) to express possibility or uncertainty, as you can see in the following examples:
Magari sei solo stanco.
Maybe you are just tired.
Magari compro la pizza per cena.
I might buy pizza for dinner.
Dov’è Giacomo?
Where is Giacomo?
Non so, magari è uscito.
I do not know, maybe he went out.
As you can see, different English structures can be used to translate it, as long as they convey the right meaning of uncertainty. Also, have you noticed anything familiar in the last example?
If you are thinking about the use of the future tense to make assumptions, yes, you are right! Magari can be used with the same meaning. It is up to you to choose what you like the most.
Dov’è Giacomo?
Where is Giacomo?
Non so, sarà uscito.
I do not know, he might have gone out.
Magari, Forse or Probabilmente?
All three can translate “maybe”, but they do not feel the same:
| Word | Feeling | Example |
| Forse | Neutral “maybe”, fine in any situation | Forse ha ragione. Maybe he is right. |
| Magari | Casual, thinking aloud, often leads into a suggestion | Magari ha ragione lui. Maybe he is right. |
| Probabilmente | “Probably”, you think it is likely | Probabilmente arriva tardi. He is probably arriving late. |
Another way to say that something is possible is può darsi che, which needs the subjunctive. I explain it in my lesson on how to use “può darsi che”.
“Magari” to Make Suggestions
Magari can also be used to soften suggestions, making them sound less direct, as in:
Se non riesci a passare l’esame magari studia meglio.
If you cannot pass the exam maybe you should study better.
As you can see, in this case, it is followed by the imperative mood. Let me show you some more examples:
Magari vai a fare la spesa prima che arrivi Fabrizia.
Maybe you could go shopping before Fabrizia arrives.
Magari scrivimi quando arrivi, così non mi preoccupo.
Perhaps text me once you get there, so I do not worry.
“Magari” to Express Wishes
Another way we can use magari in Italian is in combination with the subjunctive mood. This is used to express wishes, similar to “I wish” or “if only” in English.
We can use it with either congiuntivo imperfetto or congiuntivo trapassato depending on whether this wish is projected towards the future or the past:
- Magari + congiuntivo imperfetto: to express a wish in the present.
- Magari + congiuntivo trapassato: to express a wish referring to the past.
Let’s compare the two following sentences:
Magari venisse alla festa!
If only she came to the party! / I hope she comes to the party!
She did not come to the party yet and she might or might not come. The wish is projected towards the future, meaning that the event might still occur.
Magari fosse venuta alla festa!
If only she had come to the party! / I wish she had come to the party!
She did not come to the party, and the party is over. The wish is projected towards the past, meaning that the event has not occurred and nothing can change.
Notice that, when it is used with this meaning, magari can also be used on its own as a response to a statement.
Ti prenderanno sicuramente per quel lavoro!
They will surely hire you for that job!
Magari!
I wish!
“Magari!” as a Reply
On its own, Magari! can mean “I wish!”, “I’d love to!” or “let’s hope so!”, depending on what was said before. The tone tells you which one: if the wish is unlikely it sounds like “I wish!”, and if it is an invitation it sounds like “I’d love to!”.
Vuoi venire in Sicilia con me?
Do you want to come to Sicily with me?
Magari!
I’d love to!
Pensi che domani faccia bel tempo?
Do you think the weather will be nice tomorrow?
Magari!
Let’s hope so!
Where Does “Magari” Come From?
Magari comes from Greek, through medieval Greek makári, a word linked to makários (“blessed, happy”). The idea is “may it be so”, which explains why the word is at home in wishes. In modern Greek, μακάρι (makári) still means “I wish” or “hopefully”.
