How to use MEGLIO in Italian

How do you use the word meglio in Italian? What does it mean? How do you pronounce it?

In this lesson, we will look at how to use this word with the help of many audio recordings and example sentences. Read on to learn everything you need to know!

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Meglio in Italian

What is meglio?

Meglio is an adverb (it modifies a verb) that can be translated into English as “better”.

Meglio
Better

Its pronunciation is close to meh-hlee-oh. If you have trouble pronouncing Italian sounds, especially the palatalized L that has no equivalent in English, check out the Italian pronunciation guide.

Now, let’s see some example sentences with meglio in Italian, before we take a look at how to use this word.

Title: Italian All-in-One For Dummies
Language: English / Italian
Publisher: For Dummies
Pages: 672

Learn to speak Italian like a native? Easy.
Italian All-in-One For Dummies appeals to those readers looking for a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide to mastering the Italian language. It contains content from all For Dummies Italian language instruction titles, including Italian For Dummies, Intermediate Italian For Dummies, Italian Verbs For Dummies, Italian Phrases For Dummies, Italian Grammar For Dummies, and Italian For Dummies Audio Set.

Non so cosa dire per farti sentire meglio.
I don’t know what to say to make you feel better.

Non hai niente di meglio da fare che guardarmi mangiare?
Don’t you have anything better to do than watch me eat?

Visto che sembri stanco, è meglio che ti riposi.
Since you look tired, you better rest.

È meglio che non mangi troppo.
You better not eat too much.

lots of fast food

Now let’s see how to use meglio in Italian.


Use of meglio in Italian

We’ve said that meglio in Italian is an adverb that translates to the English adverb “better”. It’s the comparative form of bene (well) and it’s used to compare something to something else in a positive way.

Meglio is different from migliore, which is an adjective (it modifies a noun) and translates as “best”. Unlike regular Italian adjectives, it doesn’t change and doesn’t need to agree in gender and number with the noun.

Questo è il miglior giorno della mia vita.
This is the best day of my life.
(modifies a noun, giorno, so you have to use migliore)

La mia scrittura è migliore della tua.
My writing is better than yours.
(modifies a noun, scrittura, so you have to use migliore)

Marina parla svedese meglio di chiunque altro.
Marina speaks Swedish better than anyone else.
(modifies a verb, parlare, so you have to use meglio)

So cucinare meglio di te.
I can cook better than you.
(modifies a verb, cucinare, so you have to use meglio)

a boy and a girl cooking together

In colloquial speech, however, it’s often used as an “adjective” before the verb essere, to be, and just in front of the preposition di.

Un cioccolatino è meglio di un bicchiere di Coca Cola.
A chocolate candy is better than a glass of Coke.

Let’s listen to some other examples.

Sarebbe meglio per te rimanere a letto.
It would be better for you to stay in bed.

Mi sento molto meglio dopo una bella dormita.
I feel much better after a good night’s sleep.

È meglio lasciarla in pace.
We’d better leave her alone.

angry woman with lifted arms

Expressions with meglio in Italian

There are a number of common idiomatic expressions featuring meglio in Italian. These are…

  • meglio tardi che mai (better late than never)
  • andare di bene in meglio (to get better and better)
  • fare del proprio meglio (to do one’s best)
  • avere la meglio (to get the upper hand, to prevail)
  • meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani (“it’s better an egg today than a chicken tomorrow)

Ho fatto del mio meglio, ma non ho comunque superato la prova.
I did my best, but I still failed the test.

Il cane ha la meglio sul ladro e lo morde a una caviglia.
The dog overcomes the thief and bites him in the ankle.

Aiuta Lingookies con un 👍!

And that’s the end of our lesson on how to use meglio in Italian!


What next?

Now that you’ve seen how to use meglio in Italian, you might want to keep learning Italian online with these free Italian resources:

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