non importa
The English phrase "no matter" is translated into Italian as non importa.
non importa is used to express that something is unimportant. When used as a conjunction meaning "no matter [how/what/who]", it is typically placed at the beginning of a subordinate clause, such as non importa quanto… (no matter how…).
Meaning: it's unimportant (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the negation non (not) and the third-person singular of importare (to matter or to be important).
Which one should you use?
While non importa is used to mean "it doesn't matter" in a general sense, non fa niente is a common alternative used specifically to mean "it's okay" or "don't worry about it" in response to an apology.
Did you know?
- The word importare is related to the English word 'import', which shares the same Latin root meaning 'to carry in'.
- If you want to say 'no matter what' as a standalone exclamation of defiance, Italians often use comunque vada rather than a literal translation of 'importare'.
- Depending on the tone, non importa can shift from being a polite dismissal to a passive-aggressive way of saying 'fine, whatever'.
Examples in context
- Ogni passo conta, non importa quanto piccolo sia.Every step counts, no matter how small it is.This sentence shows how to use non importa to express that the size of a step does not change its importance.Tatoeba #13677684 by Nuel, translation #13677683 by Nuel
- Non importa quello che dici, io non cambierò idea.No matter what you say, I won't change my mind.This sentence uses non importa to show that what someone says does not change a decision.Tatoeba #2734073 by Guybrush88, translation #2585780 by CK
- Non importa quanto eri ubriaco, Goethe era un poeta!No matter how drunk you were, Goethe was a poet!This sentence uses non importa to show that a person's state of intoxication does not change a fact about a poet.Tatoeba #842706 by Guybrush88, translation #842698 by MUIRIEL
- Non importa quale ristorante scegliamo, sarò felice ovunque.No matter which restaurant we choose, I will be happy anywhere.
- Il tuo background non ha importanza. Siamo interessati solo alle tue competenze.Your background doesn't matter. We're only interested in your skills.
- Non importa se arrivi un po' tardi, c'è sempre tempo per divertirci insieme.No matter if you arrive a bit late, there's always time to have fun together.
- Ho dimenticato il tuo compleanno. Mi perdoni? – Non fa niente, l'importante è che siamo qui insieme.I forgot your birthday. Can you forgive me? – It doesn't matter, what's important is that we're here together.
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking after a small mistake during a game.
- SofiaScusa, ho sbagliato a lanciare il dado.Sorry, I threw the dice wrong.
- FrancescoNon importa, possiamo ricominciare subito.It's unimportant, we can start again right away.
- SofiaSei molto gentile, Francesco.You are very kind, Francesco.
- FrancescoDi nulla, Sofia!You're welcome, Sofia!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
