What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of molto, meaning 'very' or 'much' and vicino, meaning 'near' or 'close'.
Which one should you use?
While molto vicino is the standard way to express proximity, you might use Estremamente vicino to provide a stronger emphasis on proximity in formal contexts. For informal descriptions of proximity, particularly regarding locations, you can use the idiom A due passi (two steps away) or A un soffio (a breath away) to emphasize closeness.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective vicino must agree in gender and number with the person or thing it describes. Use molto vicina for a feminine subject, molto vicini for a masculine or mixed-gender group and molto vicine for a group consisting only of females. When expressing closeness to a specific person or object, use the preposition a after the adjective, as in molto vicino a.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈmol.to viˈtʃi.no/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While molto vicino describes physical distance, Italians use the word stretto to describe people who are 'very close' emotionally, such as a tight-knit family.
- The word molto shares an ancient root with the English word 'much', both descending from a Proto-Indo-European origin meaning 'crumbled'.
- To describe something as being 'very close' in a race or competition, Italians often use the phrase al millimetro, meaning 'by the millimeter'.
Examples in context
- Tom è molto vicino.Tom is very close.This sentence demonstrates the use of molto vicino to describe a person's proximity.Tatoeba #5556410 by Guybrush88, translation #2273584 by CK
- Ero molto vicino a lui.I was very close to him.This sentence shows how to use molto vicino with the preposition a to indicate closeness to a male subject.Tatoeba #10242985 by Guybrush88, translation #3907518 by CH
- Ero molto vicino a loro.I was very close to them.This sentence shows how to use molto vicino with the preposition a to indicate closeness to a plural subject.Tatoeba #5289472 by Guybrush88, translation #3907517 by CH
- La mia casa è molto vicina a quella di MarcoMy house is very close to Marco's
- Il negozio che cerchi è estremamente vicino alla stazioneThe shop you are looking for is extremely close to the station
- Siamo davvero vicini al punto di incontroWe are really close to the meeting point
- Il ristorante che abbiamo prenotato è vicinissimoThe restaurant we booked is very close
- La gelateria migliore è a due passi da quiThe best gelato place is a stone's throw away
- La spiaggia è a un soffio da quiThe beach is a breath away from here
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are looking for a cafe in the city.
- GiuliaMatteo, dove si trova il bar?Matteo, where is the cafe?
- MatteoSecondo la mappa, è molto vicino.According to the map, it is very close.
- GiuliaDavvero? Non lo vedo.Really? I don't see it.
- MatteoGuarda, è proprio dietro quell'angolo.Look, it is right behind that corner.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (molto, vicino) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries molto, vicino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
