How to Say “More or Less” in Italian: A Comprehensive Guide

When learning a new language, it’s always useful to know how to express nuances that can make your conversations more engaging and comprehensive. One such phrase in Italian is “more or less,” which helps you convey an approximation or an estimated value. In this guide, we will explore the different ways to say “more or less” in Italian, both formally and informally. While regional variations exist, we will focus on the most widely used expressions. So let’s dive in and discover the various ways to master this versatile phrase!

Formal Ways to Say “More or Less” in Italian

When you find yourself in a formal or professional setting, it’s important to know how to express approximations while maintaining a polite and sophisticated tone. Here are some phrases you can use:

1. Circa – This is the most common and straightforward way to say “more or less” in Italian. It is commonly used in formal situations and means “approximately” or “around.” For example:
   

   Circa 50 persone parteciperanno al convegno. (Approximately 50 people will attend the conference.)

2. Pressappoco – This phrase is a more colloquial variant of “circa” and can be used interchangeably in formal settings. It indicates a rough estimate or approximation. For example:
   

   Il volo atterrerà pressappoco alle 17:00. (The flight will land around 5:00 PM, more or less.)

3. A grandi linee – This expression translates to “in broad strokes” and can be used when giving general estimates or approximations. It implies a certain level of flexibility in the value provided. For example:
   

   Credo che il progetto richiederà, a grandi linee, un mese. (I believe the project will take, more or less, a month.)

Informal Ways to Say “More or Less” in Italian

In casual conversations with friends, family, or acquaintances, it’s common to use more relaxed language. Here are some informal expressions you can utilize:

1. Su per giù – This expression translates roughly to “up and down” and is commonly used to mean “around” or “more or less.” It conveys a casual and approximate value. For example:
   

   Ci vorranno su per giù tre ore per arrivare in città. (It will take around three hours to reach the city, more or less.)

2. Quasi – While the literal translation of this word is “almost,” it can also be used to mean “more or less” in informal speech. It implies an approximation or a rough estimate. For example:
   

   Ci sono quasi 30 studenti nella mia classe. (There are more or less 30 students in my class.)

3. Più o meno – This expression directly translates to “more or less” and is commonly used in everyday conversations to convey an approximation. It is versatile and can be applied in various contexts. For example:
   

   Il prezzo sarà più o meno 50 euro. (The price will be around 50 euros, give or take.)

Additional Tips and Examples

Here are a few more tips and examples to help you understand how to use “more or less” in Italian:

• When using “circa” or “pressappoco,” the value can be placed both before or after the phrase. For example: “50 persone, circa,” or “Circa 50 persone.”
• If you want to emphasize a more precise approximation, you can use the phrase “più o meno” together with a specific value. For example: “Il treno parte più o meno alle 15:45.”
• Remember to adjust the gender and number of nouns and adjectives accordingly. For instance, if you want to say “more or less happy,” it would be “più o meno felice” for a singular male subject and “più o meno felici” for a plural subject.
• It’s important to note that these expressions can sometimes vary across different regions or dialects in Italy. However, the ones mentioned in this guide are commonly understood throughout the country.