Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| anche | /ˈan.ke/ |
| pure | /ˈpu.re/ |
Anche is an adverb used to mean 'too' or 'also'. Unlike the English 'too' which often appears at the end of a sentence, anche is typically placed before the verb or the specific element it is emphasizing.
Which one should you use?
While anche is the standard word for 'too', pure serves as a slightly more formal or emphatic alternative used in similar contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Anche is an adverb and does not change its form based on the gender or number of the subject it refers to. Note that this is distinct from the word 'too' in the sense of 'excessively' (as in 'too expensive'), which uses troppo costoso for singular masculine, troppo costosa for singular feminine, troppo costosi for plural masculine and troppo costose for plural feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈan.ke/.
Did you know?
- The word pure can be used in certain contexts to give permission, such as saying faccia pure to tell someone 'please, go ahead'.
- The word pure comes from the Latin word for 'purely', suggesting that adding something 'too' is like adding a pure or unmixed element to a situation.
- While anche means 'too', it can be used to create a 'concessive' meaning, similar to saying 'even if' or 'even though' in English.
Examples in context
- Sì, è anche lì.Yes, it's there too.This sentence shows how to use anche to indicate location.Tatoeba #3425551 by Guybrush88, translation #403082 by Ramses
- Anche Tom è lì?Is Tom there, too?This sentence uses anche to ask if someone is also present.Tatoeba #3638586 by Guybrush88, translation #3636409 by CK
- Anche lui è lì.He's there, too.This sentence uses anche to indicate that a person is also in a specific place.Tatoeba #8486887 by Guybrush88, translation #8480407 by CH
- La conferenza è stata troppo lunga.The conference was too long.
- Il prezzo è troppo alto.The price is too high.
- Ho mangiato troppi dolci.I ate too many sweets.
- 1017 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are at a café deciding what to order.
- ChiaraIo prendo un caffè.I will have a coffee.
- FrancescoAnche io, per favore.Me too, please.
- ChiaraVuoi anche un cornetto?Do you want a croissant too?
- FrancescoNo, grazie, solo il caffè.No, thanks, just the coffee.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “too” translations and entries anche, pure, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anche, pure, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
