Meaning of infatti in Italian
Infatti is an adverb that can be translated into English as “in fact”, “so much so that”, “as a matter of fact” or “indeed”.
Infatti
In fact, so much so that, indeed, as a matter of fact
Infatti in Italian: Examples
A mio figlio non piacciono le caramelle, e infatti non ne mangia mai.
My son does not like candy; in fact, he never eats any.
Luca non è andato alla festa ieri sera. Infatti, Marta mi ha detto che è andato al cinema.
Luca did not go to the party last night. In fact, Marta told me that he went to the movies.
La stanza non è rettangolare. È quadrata, infatti.
The room is not rectangular. It is square, in fact.
Oggi fa caldissimo, infatti sto sudando copiosamente.
It is very hot today, so much so that I am sweating profusely.
Gabriele ha picchiato uno studente di terza. Infatti, lo hanno espulso.
Gabriele beat up a third-year student, so much so that he was expelled.
Using infatti in Italian
We’ve said that infatti in Italian is an adverb that translates to the English adverb “in fact” or “as a matter of fact”.
As a matter of fact, it’s used to confirm or validate something we or someone else has just said.
Marco non avrebbe dovuto agire d’impulso. – Infatti! Avrebbe dovuto aspettare la polizia!
Marco should not have acted on impulse. – Indeed! He should have waited for the police!
Infatti in Italian can also introduce a consequence.
Laura ha l’influenza, e infatti non è venuta a lezione.
Laura has the flu and indeed did not come to class.
Il mio cane ama la neve. Infatti, quando nevica non vuole mai rientrare in casa.
My dog loves snow. In fact, he never wants to come back inside when it snows.
Infatti can also be used alone as an interjection to agree with another statement.
Forse non avrei dovuto urlare. – Infatti!
Maybe I shouldn’t have shouted. – Indeed!
To disagree with a statement, use a dire il vero (“to tell you the truth”) or in realtà (“actually”).
Forse non avrei dovuto urlare. – In realtà, penso che tu abbia fatto bene.
Maybe I shouldn’t have yelled. – Actually, I think you did the right thing.
Infatti in Italian: Related Words
Difatti
Difatti is perfectly interchangeable with infatti in Italian, but it’s less common. Like infatti, it is used to support or justify another statement.
Difatti
Indeed, as a matter of fact, sure enough, in fact
Fabio è un tipo molto calmo. Difatti, non si arrabbia mai.
Fabio is a very calm guy. In fact, he never gets angry.
In effetti
You use in effetti to agree with a previous statement.
In effetti
Indeed
Paolo è ammalato. – Non lo vedo da una settimana, in effetti.
Paul is sick. – Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him for a week.
This might make you think that it’s always interchangeable with infatti when it’s used to agree with another statement, but it actually isn’t.
Paolo è ammalato. – Non lo vedo da una settimana, infatti.
Paul is sick. – In fact, I haven’t seen him for a week.
When you say Non lo vedo da una settimana, in effetti, you agree with your friend, but you don’t acknowledge Paolo’s absence until your friend tells you that Paolo has been sick (“Now that I think of it…“)
When you say Non lo vedo da una settimana, infatti, you’re still agreeing with your friend, but you’re implying that you already noticed that Paolo has been missing for the past few days! This is a very subtle change of meaning.
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