“Secondo me” in Italian
Meaning
As simple as it is, secondo me in Italian translates to “in my opinion” or “according to me”. It’s commonly used to express personal viewpoints or beliefs.
It is is a polite and clear way to introduce your perspective in a conversation. Have a look at the examples below:
Secondo me, questo film è molto interessante.
In my opinion, this movie is very interesting.
Secondo noi, dovremmo partire presto per evitare il traffico.
For us, we should leave early to avoid traffic.
Secondo Luigi, la pizza qui è la migliore della città.
According to Luigi, the pizza here is the best in town.
I know what you are thinking: is it not the same word as the ordinal number secondo (the second)? Yes, it is. But they have different meanings.
You also might have noticed that the word secondo does not necessarily have to be followed by me only. Below I will show you how to use it in all possible combinations.
How to use “Secondo…”
The most important thing to keep in mind when using this expression is that we use unstressed personal pronouns. I know it sounds weird or hard, but it is easier than you think.
So far you might have heard of personal pronouns only. These are the typical subjects that are used in sentences. Unstressed personal pronouns, instead, are the personal pronouns that are used when the subject is preceded by a preposition.
In this context, secondo behaves as a preposition. Therefore, for the first and second-person singular we do not use io and tu but me and te: secondo me/te (according to me/you), but secondo lui/lei/noi/voi/loro (according to him/her/us/you/them).
Secondo me questa torta è troppo dolce, non mi piace.
In my opinion, this cake is too sweet; I do not like it.
Secondo te ho sbagliato a licenziarmi?
Do you think leaving my job was a mistake?
Secondo lei stavo meglio con i capelli lunghi.
In her opinion, I looked better with long hair.
Secondo loro siamo stati maleducati e dovremmo chiedere scusa.
According to them, we were rude and should say sorry.
Secondo can also be used in combination with nouns.
Secondo le previsioni, stasera pioverà.
According to the weather forecasts, it will rain tonight.
Dovresti guidare secondo il codice stradale.
You should drive according to traffic laws.
Secondo gli esperti della nutrizione, mangiare carne fa male alla salute.
According to nutrition experts, eating meat is bad for your health.
“A Seconda di”
Meaning
Similarly to what we saw so far, the Italian phrase a seconda di translates to “depending on” or “according to” to imply variability and dependence. It indicates that an outcome varies based on certain conditions or circumstances.
A seconda del tempo, decidiamo se andare al mare o in montagna.
Depending on the weather, we will decide whether to go to the beach or to the mountains.
Il prezzo del biglietto varia a seconda dell’età.
The ticket price varies according to age.
How to use “a Seconda di…”
This expression is by a noun to indicate what the action or situation depends on and is appropriate for both formal and informal settings, making it a versatile addition to your Italian vocabulary.
Il programma della giornata può cambiare a seconda degli imprevisti.
The day’s schedule can change depending on unforeseen events.
La durata del viaggio varia a seconda del traffico.
The duration of the trip varies according to traffic.
Of course, make sure that the preposition is properly linked with the corresponding definite article, according to the grammatical gender and number of the noun that follows it:
- A seconda del (masculine singular)
- A seconda della (feminine singular)
- A seconda degli (masculine plural)
- A seconda delle (feminine plural)
Secondo me, hai Capito Tutto!
According to me, you understood everything!
Understanding the use of these two expressions is essential for expressing personal opinions and conditions in Italian.
By mastering these phrases, you can enhance your Italian fluency and better articulate your thoughts. Keep practicing, and you’ll be able to master these expressions in your Italian conversations.
