meno di
/ˈme.no di/word by word
The Italian phrase for "less than" is meno di.
meno di is used to indicate that one amount or number is smaller than another.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of meno (less) and di (than/of).
Which one should you use?
While meno di is the standard phrase, you may encounter more formal alternatives. Minore di is an ideal choice when specifically comparing numbers or ages, and inferiore a means "inferior to" and is used when discussing numbers or quantities.
How does it change in a sentence?
In English, "than" is used for comparisons, but in Italian, the preposition di is used when comparing quantities or amounts.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈme.no di/. The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using meno che to express "less than" when comparing quantities or numbers. Instead, use meno di.
Did you know?
- In Italian, meno can also be used as an adverb to describe the subtraction of minutes when telling time, such as dieci meno cinque for 'ten to five'.
- To say 'the least' or 'at least', Italians use the phrase almeno, which merges the preposition a and the word meno into a single word.
- The word meno is not just a comparative tool, but is also the standard Italian word for 'minus' in mathematics.
Examples in context
- Mangiai meno di Tom.I ate less than Tom.This sentence shows how to use meno di to compare amounts eaten.Tatoeba #7119454 by Guybrush88, translation #7111692 by CK
- Non lavori meno di me.You don't work less than me.This sentence demonstrates the use of meno di in a comparison of work.Tatoeba #7912762 by Guybrush88, translation #7791103 by sharris123
- Abbiamo meno di un'ora.We've got less than an hour.This sentence illustrates how to use meno di to describe a duration of time.Tatoeba #3407267 by Guybrush88, translation #3310160 by CK
- Il loro numero di dipendenti è inferiore a cento.Their number of employees is less than one hundred.
- Devi aspettare meno di dieci minuti.You have to wait less than ten minutes.
- Questo edificio è più piccolo di quello.This building is smaller than that one.
- 105 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Francesco are discussing the price of a new coffee machine.
- MartinaCosta meno di cinquanta euro.It costs less than fifty euros.
- FrancescoDavvero? È un ottimo affare.Really? That is a great deal.
- MartinaSì, ci sono meno di dieci pezzi rimasti.Yes, there are less than ten pieces left.
- FrancescoAllora dobbiamo comprarla subito!Then we must buy it immediately!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (meno, di) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
