molto simile
/ˈmol.to ˈsi.mi.le/word by word
The English phrase "very similar" is translated into Italian as molto simile.
The phrase is used to describe two or more things that are almost the same. To highlight what the similarity refers to, use the structure molto simile a followed by an object. If you wish to say "extremely similar", you can use Estremamente simile or if something is "practically identical", you can use Praticamente identico.
What does it mean word for word?
The word molto means "very" or "much", and simile means "similar".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective simile must agree in number with the noun it describes. Use molto simili for plural nouns. When stating that something is similar "to" something else, you must use the preposition a (for example, simile a…). Because simile is followed by the preposition a, it often combines with definite articles to form articulated prepositions like al or alla when describing similarity to a specific noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈmol.to ˈsi.mi.le/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While molto usually means 'very', in musical scores worldwide, the Italian term molto is used as a technical instruction to tell musicians to play a passage with great intensity or speed.
- The word molto shares a surprising ancient root with the English word 'moult', meaning to shed or crumble, as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European term for something 'crumbled'.
- In Italian, the word simile can be used as a noun to refer to a 'similar person' or a 'peer', rather than just as an adjective to describe a likeness.
Examples in context
- È molto simile a lui.You are very similar to him.This sentence is useful for showing how to use molto simile to compare a person to someone else.Tatoeba #9734763 by Guybrush88, translation #9723118 by ariarin
- Il bulgaro è molto simile al russo.Bulgarian is very similar to Russian.This sentence shows how to use molto simile when comparing two languages.Tatoeba #2141070 by Guybrush88, translation #2140972 by Eldad
- Mary sembra molto simile a sua sorella.Mary looks very similar to her sister.This sentence demonstrates how to use molto simile when describing a physical resemblance.Tatoeba #12520539 by Guybrush88, translation #6421771 by CF
- Questa casa è molto simile a quella che ho visto l'anno scorso.This house is very similar to the one I saw last year.
- Sei proprio uguale a tua madre!You are just like your mother!
- Non riesco a distinguere questi due quadri, sono praticamente identici.I can't distinguish between these two paintings, they are practically identical.
- Il nuovo modello è molto simile all'originale, ma con alcune piccole modifiche.The new model is very similar to the original, but with some small changes.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are comparing two different smartphones.
- MatteoQuesto telefono è molto simile al mio.This phone is very similar to mine.
- GiuliaSì, hanno quasi le stesse funzioni.Yes, they have almost the same functions.
- MatteoAnche il colore è molto simile.The color is also very similar.
- GiuliaHai ragione, sono quasi identici.You are right, they are almost identical.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (molto, simile) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries molto, simile, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
