non proprio
/non ˈprɔ.prjo/word by word
The Italian phrase for 'not really' is non proprio.
non proprio is used to indicate that something is true only to a low degree.
Meaning: to a low degree (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the negation non (not) and the adverb proprio (exactly, properly or quite).
Which one should you use?
While non proprio means 'not really' in the sense of 'not exactly', non molto is used when you want to say 'not very much' regarding quantity or intensity.
How do you pronounce it?
It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, using non proprio is often a way to avoid a blunt 'no', making it a key tool for cortesia or social politeness. It signals that you are disagreeing without being confrontational.
- The word proprio comes from the Latin proprius, which means 'one's own'. In English, its distant cousin is 'property', which refers to things that belong to you.
- While non proprio is used for precision, Italians often use a simple shrug or a slight tilt of the head alongside the phrase to further soften the disagreement.
Examples in context
- "Gli credi?" "Non proprio!""Do you believe him?" "Not really!"The sentence is useful for practicing a response to a question about belief using non proprio.Tatoeba #11799918 by Guybrush88, translation #7325318 by AmarMecheri
- "È di fretta?" "Non proprio.""Are you in a hurry?" "Not really."The sentence is useful for a response to a question about being in a hurry using non proprio.Tatoeba #9742937 by Guybrush88, translation #9475627 by DJ_Saidez
- "Hai fame?" "No, non proprio.""Are you hungry?" "No, not really."The sentence is useful for a response to a question about hunger using non proprio.Tatoeba #12560016 by Guybrush88, translation #3865845 by Jenn
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a movie they just watched.
- AlessandroTi è piaciuto il film?Did you like the movie?
- SofiaNon proprio, era un po' noioso.Not really, it was a bit boring.
- AlessandroForse la trama era troppo lenta.Maybe the plot was too slow.
- SofiaSì, esatto.Yes, exactly.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (non, proprio) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries non, proprio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
