Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| letterale | /let.teˈra.le/ |
| alla lettera |
In Italian, the concept of being exactly as stated or understood without interpretation can be expressed using either the adjective letterale or the adverbial phrase alla lettera.
Which one should you use?
letterale is an adjective used to describe a noun, such as 'a literal translation'. In contrast, alla lettera is an adverbial phrase used to describe how an action is performed, such as 'following instructions to the letter'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective letterale is invariable in gender, so it remains the same for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. For plural nouns, whether masculine or feminine, the plural form is letterali. Additionally, if you wish to use the adverb meaning 'literally' in the sense of 'actually' or 'truly', you should use letteralmente.
How do you pronounce it?
letterale is pronounced /let.teˈra.le/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- Italian speakers use letteralmente for emphasis in exactly the same way English speakers use 'literally' to describe things that are not actually happening.
- The Italian word letterato shares the same root as letterale and refers to a person who is well-read or a scholar, rather than just someone who can read.
- The word lettera inside letterale means both 'letter' of the alphabet and 'a letter' sent in the mail.
Examples in context
- Spiegò il significato letterale della frase.He explained the literal meaning of the phrase.This sentence shows how to use letterale to describe the meaning of a phrase.Tatoeba #1427519 by Guybrush88, translation #290697 by CK
- Possono aggiungere una traduzione letterale.They can add a literal translation.This sentence demonstrates the use of letterale to describe a translation.Tatoeba #4783334 by Guybrush88, translation #4783317 by AlanF_US
- Questa traduzione è corretta, ma è troppo letterale.This translation is correct, but it is too literal.This sentence illustrates how letterale can be used to describe a translation that is too literal.Tatoeba #10987596 by carlosalberto, translation #10987593 by carlosalberto
- Ho seguito le istruzioni alla lettera!I followed the instructions literally!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are discussing a poem they read in class.
- LorenzoIl senso letterale della poesia è molto semplice.The literal meaning of the poem is very simple.
- ChiaraSì, ma il significato profondo è diverso.Yes, but the deeper meaning is different.
- LorenzoHai ragione, non è un testo letterale.You're right, it is not a literal text.
- ChiaraEsatto, l'autore usa molte metafore.Exactly, the author uses many metaphors.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “literal” translations and entries letterale, alla lettera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
