- Forum >
- Topic: Italian >
- "Allora tu non sei un vero cu…
69 Comments
"Allora" is impossible to translate easily to English. "Then" is right, but without the temporal sense. It's kind of an all-purpose interjection, like "well" or "anyway".
It's exactly like the English "then", and we use "Allora" in the classic if-then statements.
IF it's snowing THEN it's cold
SE sta nevicando ALLORA è freddo.
That's not true. When allora is used as a filler, it is not just "then". "Well then" could work, but isn't perfect.
When I was in Italy, our local tour guide was asked what 'allora' meant by one of the people on the trip, because she said it so often. Her description of the word was this: "Allora...it is everything and nothing". You're right. It's "then" as much as it's "uuuhhh" and "well", etc.
It it's the sound that people make when their brains are about to engage their mouths to speak. Brits use, "so, then, well", and the very dull "erm". Because Italians talk so fast they need a very long and beautiful word. It also guards against interruptions.
I love your answer.
In Portuguese we have these 'language connectors' "então" e "daí".
They're used to allocate space in the brain and in the speech, in order to keep talking!
I think I finally get it. It is like the American "um", "so" "well", "ah". You replied 3 years ago, but I showed up late for this party, so I'm thanking you today :) :)
187
I think 'allora' is one of those words that has the literal dictionary meaning (that DL may be using) and the more general meaning. I hear 'allora' being used pretty much like Americans use 'so', or 'well' or 'like', that is, as filler, rather than as a word with a specific meaning.
...and this is the most dangerous sentence you can say in an italian restaurant :D
You can report it.
Anyway, the easier translation for "Allora" is always "then" ;)
Just wanted to check if that was right as well. Thank you for clarifying that!
Yes, I think it is wrong. I fell for it too, I just got marked wrong for 'well you are not truly a cook' ... I had to think about it, but 'vero' in this sentence is an adjective modifying 'cuoco' and is not an adverb modifying 'are'.
What's the difference between "poi" and "allora"? Does "allora" have a more temporal sense? Like "you've made something and allora walked away"?
"Poi" and "Allora" have a temporal sense, but "Allora" has another meaning added to it: the logical consequence. Instead "Poi" only means after ....
Notice the difference:
-
you made something and "poi" you walked away. Here "poi" indicates the succession of events only. You are only saying that you are going to do something and after that you walk away, without stating any causal link between the two events. They can be completely unrelated. You're only saying that a thing happens after another one.
-
you made something and "allora" you walked away. Here there is a temporal succession but this is caused by the fact that the second action is a consequence of the first. The children broke the glass playing soccer and "allora" they walked away before being caught by teachers. Here the first action is the cause of the following action.
Eventually, there is another sense of allora. In some cases "allora" can have a pure temporal sense. It's when you are talking of a remote temporal situation, and in that case "allora" means : at that time. Mi sono sposato a 18 anni. Allora credevo nell'amore. I got married when I was 18 y.o. Allora (at that time) I was believing in love.
Brilliant reply and brilliant english. Most brits couldn't explain their own language in such good english. Trust you are well in your (sadly bikeless) watery wonderland.
Thou has said. But I guess she was thanking Jesus for making me answer her. According to the words of the Apostle, ‘What hast thou that thou hast not received from God? :)
Do I understand correctly that allora is conclusive then while poi is then in time sequence?
Allora is easy to remember as "at the time" - "al l' ora". Basically means then
- 187
Being someone who thrives on word association to remember foreign words, I like your suggestion.
Also, Italians can have the tendency to use 'allora' as filler, sort of like Americans use 'so', 'like', 'you know.' A friend was taking an Italian immersion class in Florence and the instructor constantly used the word 'allora.' Finally, my friend asked her what 'allora' meant and she was puzzled at his question. When he explained, she said she had no idea she kept using the word.
Tell us about this Italian class in Florence! It sounds like something we should all be saving up for!!
scathing review of Pietro Gliamini's recently refurbished restaurant which claims to serve ideas and not food! doh!
I was wondering about that word for as long as I knew Italian language and had an interest. I always keep hearing it when watching Rai sports and the commentators "allora.... allora"
- 213
“I said "therefore you are not a true cook" and it marked me wrong. Can "allora" not be translated as "therefore"? It seems like it means almost the same as "then" in this context.
Yes, "therefore", "hence", "then", express a logical implication. It's not wrong to use them when there is a logical implication, even though the possible double meaning of "allora" (logical and temporal) makes "then" the best translation ...
- 213
Perfect - thanks for that clarification. I still wish it hadn't marked me wrong, but if it got me to have this discussion then I guess it was all for the best indeed!
Paolo, 'allora' might be used as a type of "speech mark", as something you say in order to keep talking, in order for the brain process stuff to go farther (on speech)?
In Portuguese we have at least two: 'então' and 'daí'. Both has temporal implications, and are used to connect parts of the speech, to keep on talking (and not allowing someone else to), to organize ideas and thinking, to begin a conversation, as a conclusive remark, multiple uses, just like 'allora'!
Maybe they're related in some way?
Okay, is just okay. Also , va bene, But that's very different.. allora is then, and only that in this context.
"In that case" would be a better translation for "allora" than "then", wouldn't it?
Allora sounds like the French "alors", and they seem to be used the same way. Alors also indicates causal succession (in this way it is similar to "so") as well as being used as a general interjection.
I put cuoco vero and it was accepted but here it's vero cuoco. Are there other adjectives that can go either before or after? Does it change the meaning, even slightly?
I have trouble with her voice which softens at the end of the sentence so I can't hear the words. Also, she said viro and it should be vero. Frustrating.
- 439
Can someone explain why the word "sei" is used in this sentence? Wouldn't the sentence work without this word?
