Mi manchi anche tu
The English phrase 'I miss you too' is translated into Italian as Mi manchi anche tu.
A response used to tell someone that you also feel the sadness of their absence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally translated as 'You are also missing to me', because the verb mancare functions such that the person being missed is the subject of the sentence.
Which one should you use?
While Mi manchi means 'I miss you', adding anche tu specifically emphasizes that the feeling of missing is mutual.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, tu (you) is the subject and mi (to me) is the indirect object.
Did you know?
- The word mancare can also mean 'to fail' or 'to miss a target', as in missing a goal during a football match.
- In Italian, the verb mancare is used for both emotional longing and physical absence, such as a missing ingredient in a recipe or a missing piece of a puzzle.
- The word anche likely evolved from ancora, which means 'still' or 'yet', through a process called rebracketing.
Examples in context
- Mi manchi anche tu, amore mio.I miss you too, my love.
- Sì, mi manchi anche tu.Yes, I miss you too.
Example conversation
Two partners are talking on the phone after a long trip.
- MartinaMi manchi tantissimo, Francesco.I miss you so much, Francesco.
- FrancescoMi manchi anche tu, Martina.I miss you too, Martina.
- MartinaNon vedo l'ora di vederti.I can't wait to see you.
- FrancescoAnch'io, a presto.Me too, see you soon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anche, mi, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
