tranne
/ˈtran.ne/
In Italian, "except" can be expressed using tranne, salvo or eccetto.
Meaning: introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification (prep)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| tranne | /ˈtran.ne/ |
| salvo | /ˈsal.vo/ |
| eccetto | /etˈt͡ʃɛt.to/ |
All three forms are used as prepositions to introduce a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification.
Which one should you use?
Salvo is more formal and is often used in legal or administrative contexts. Eccetto is slightly more formal than tranne and is often used in written language.
How do you pronounce it?
The word tranne is pronounced /ˈtran.ne/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The preposition tranne is actually a linguistic 'sandwich' made from the verb trarre, which means 'to pull' or 'to extract'.
- While eccetto is used for exceptions, the verb eccellere comes from the same root and means 'to excel' or 'to stand out'.
- While tranne is the most common way to say 'except', the word salvo can also mean 'safe' or 'healthy' in a different context.
Examples in context
- Odio tutti tranne te.I hate everyone except you.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of tranne with a pronoun.Tatoeba #8379687 by Guybrush88, translation #6099432 by OsoHombre
- Risero tutti tranne me.Everyone laughed except me.Tatoeba #6206859 by Guybrush88, translation #3918503 by CH
- Risero tutti tranne Tom.Everyone laughed except Tom.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of tranne with a proper noun.Tatoeba #3358556 by Guybrush88, translation #2261243 by CK
- Ho invitato tutti tranne lui.I invited everyone except him.
- Tranne qualche eccezione, hanno tutti accettato l'invito.Except for a few exceptions, they all accepted the invitation.
- Ho letto tutti i libri di questa serie, eccetto l'ultimo.I've read all the books in this series, except for the last one.
- Vengo alla festa, salvo imprevisti.I'll come to the party, unless something unexpected happens.
- Salvo problemi, il progetto sarà completato domani.Except for any issues, the project will be completed tomorrow.
- Ho visitato tutte le città della regione, a parte Torino.I visited all the cities in the region, except for Turin.
- 195 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are discussing their weekend plans.
- LorenzoFacciamo tutto oggi, tranne il giardino.We are doing everything today, except the garden.
- MartinaVa bene, Lorenzo, l'ordine è perfetto.Alright, Lorenzo, the order is perfect.
- LorenzoVuoi mangiare qualcosa adesso?Do you want to eat something now?
- MartinaSì, ho molta fame.Yes, I am very hungry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “except” translations and entries tranne, salvo, eccetto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eccetto, salvo, tranne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
