Italian Filler Words

Last Part

Fillers words are words that ‘fill in’ silence when people are speaking. They are very common in informal language, and they come in handy when you’re thinking about what to say next.

Today we’ll learn the most common Italian filler words.

Photo by Heather Gill on Unsplash

21. Nel senso = I mean, meaning that

Nel senso, so che hai ragione ma è meglio trovare un compromesso – I mean, I know you're right but it's better to find a compromise.

‘Cioè’ can be used instead of ‘nel senso’ with the same meaning.

Ci faranno sapere, nel senso che non verranno, no? – They'll let us know, meaning they won't come, right?

22. Niente = anyway

E niente... alla fine due tipi seduti al bar mi hanno aiutato a ritrovare l'hotel! – Anyway... in the end two guys sitting at the bar helped me find the hotel!

E quindi niente... alla fine era tutto un equivoco... – Anyway... in the end it was all a misunderstanding...

23. Onestamente = honestly

Onestamente mi aspettavo di più da questo ristorante – I honestly expected more from this restaurant.

Onestamente sono rimasto piacevolmente sorpreso – Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised.

24. Per intenderci: to be clear

A: Giusto per intenderci, ho accettato il suo invito solo per essere gentile.

B: Ma chi vuoi prendere in giro? Si vede che ti piace!

A: Just to be clear, I accepted his invitation just to be kind.

B: Who are you kidding? It's clear you like him!

25. Praticamente: basically, pretty much

A: Alla fine? Cosa è successo? B: Praticamente è arrivata la polizia, ma i ladri erano già scappati! – A: In the end? What happened? B: Basically, the police arrived, but the thieves had already escaped.

Praticamente, è lui a mandare avanti la baracca – He's pretty much the one who runs the place.

26. Sai: you know

Hanno fatto pace, sai? – They made up, you know?

Non è sempre tutto rose e fiori come sembra, sai! – It's not always all rosy as it seems, you know!

27. Senti: look, listen

Ok, senti, te lo devo prorpio dire – Okay, look, I really have to tell you.

Senti, perché non le regaliamo un massaggio per il suo compleanno? – Listen, why don't we get her a massage for her birthday?

28. Sostanzialmente: basically

Sostanzialmente, mi stai dicendo che devo scegliere tra la pasta e la pizza? Impossibile! – Basically, are you telling me that I have to choose between pasta and pizza? Impossible!

Sostanzialmente, mi hanno preso! Devo solo firmare il contratto! – Basically, I got the job! I just have to sign the contract!

29. Tutto sommato = all in all, all things considered

Tutto sommato è andata bene – All in all it went well.

Tutto sommato è una bella serie TV – All in all it's a good TV series.

30. Vabbé/evabbé = fair enough, whatever, oh well, alright

Evabbé che ci posso fare? – Oh well, what can I do?

Vabbé, chi se ne frega – Whatever, who cares.

Evabbé, se la vedi così… - Fai enough, if you feel that way…

Vabbé, non importa – Oh well, it doesn't matter.

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Thanks for reading, I'll see you all next month!

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Go to the Italian version.

To read my previous article, click below:

Italian Filler Words_Part Two