In Effetti: Meaning in English
In effetti means “actually”, “indeed”, “as a matter of fact” or “admittedly”. Italians use it when they confirm something after thinking about it, like “now that you mention it, that is true”.
| When you use it | Example | English |
| You realise someone is right | In effetti hai ragione. | You’re right, actually. |
| You confirm something with the facts | Ho detto che pioveva e in effetti piove. | I said it would rain, and indeed it’s raining. |
| You admit a point | È bello, ma in effetti è un po’ caro. | It’s nice, but admittedly a bit expensive. |
| You answer a question honestly | Ti piace? – In effetti no. | Do you like it? – Actually, no. |
Pronounce it as een ef-FET-tee, with the stress on fet. It is two words, with a double f and a double t: in effetti, not “ineffetti”, “in efetti” or “inefetti”.
The Italian “In Effetti”
The Italian expression in effetti can be translated in English as “actually” or “indeed”. It is used to emphasize a statement or confirm something that has just been mentioned.
In Italian, in effetti is a synonym of infatti and effettivamente. These expressions can be used interchangeably. Let me show you some examples:
Mauro mi ha consigliato questo film e in effetti, è bellissimo!
Mauro recommended this movie, and it’s beautiful indeed!
I miei mi hanno detto che lui non è gentile e in effetti è proprio antipatico!
My parents told me he’s not kind and he’s indeed very unpleasant!
Vi ho detto che il bar era chiuso e in effetti avevo ragione: il bar è chiuso.
I told you the cafe was closed, and I was actually right: the cafe was closed.
Now, let’s have a look at some dialogues so that you can see how to use in effetti when you’re talking with someone.
A: Lei sembra proprio simpatica.
B: In effetti hai ragione.
A: She seems very fun.
B: Indeed, you’re right.
A: Non stai bene, vero?
B: No, in effetti, sono un po’ triste.
A: You’re not well, right?
B: No, actually, I’m a bit sad.
A: Non sembri tanto contenta.
B: In effetti non sono contenta.
A: You don’t seem very happy.
B: Indeed, I’m not happy.
In Effetti vs Infatti vs Effettivamente
In everyday speech these words are often interchangeable, but they have a slightly different feeling:
| Word | Feeling | Example |
| In effetti | You reflect on something and realise or admit it is true | In effetti non ci avevo pensato. (Actually, I hadn’t thought of that.) |
| Infatti | You confirm what was said with a fact that proves it (see my lesson on infatti) | Ha piovuto tutta la notte; infatti le strade sono bagnate. (It rained all night; in fact the streets are wet.) |
| Effettivamente | In actual fact, really | Effettivamente c’è un errore nel conto. (There is indeed a mistake in the bill.) |
“Actually” in Italian: In Effetti or In Realtà?
English “actually” has two opposite jobs. When it confirms something, use in effetti. When it contradicts what was said or expected, use in realtà (in reality).
Sembra facile, ma in realtà è difficile.
It seems easy, but actually it’s difficult.
Sembra difficile, e in effetti lo è.
It seems difficult, and indeed it is.
Other ways to say something similar are a dire il vero (to tell the truth) and a pensarci bene (thinking about it). For a similar connector that guesses an explanation, see my lesson on si vede che, and for more everyday words, my list of Italian colloquial words.
Where to Put In Effetti
You can start a sentence with in effetti, put it after e (e in effetti…) or place it in the middle between commas. It usually takes a comma when it opens the answer.
In effetti, hai ragione tu.
Actually, you’re right.
Sono un po’ stanco, in effetti.
I’m a bit tired, actually.
Practice: In Effetti, Infatti or In Realtà?
- Pensavo fosse facile, ma ___ è molto difficile.
- Hai ragione, ___ non ci avevo pensato.
- Marco ha detto che il negozio era chiuso e ___ era chiuso.
Answers: 1. in realtà 2. in effetti 3. infatti (in effetti also works)
