What does ma in Italian mean?
What is the meaning of the word ma in Italian? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use ma in Italian.
The word ma in Italian means but, but, but, it's wrong to think badly of someone, but you're very often right, allegro ma non troppo, have the means but not the knowhow, that's for sure, a leopard can't change its spots, there's a trick but you can't see it, crazy but true, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, also, of course! sure!, who are you?, who do you think you are?, are you stupid or just letting on?, are you stupid or just pretending to be stupid?, what do you mean?, Come on! Seriously?, Come on! Seriously?, where have you been?, give me a break!, don't make me laugh!, well look at that, well imagine that, well, look at that!, well, really!, but, really!, How on earth, do you think?, I wouldn't even dream of it, you don't say!, don't even mention it, you're very welcome, never! no way! it's out of the question!, you don't say, really? You don't say?, go away! Go on!, moderate, but not too much, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in lieu of flowers, please make a charitable contribution, I don't mean to brag, but, not have a clue, few but good, not practise what you preach, that's for sure, that much is certain, without if and buts, no ifs and buts. To learn more, please see the details below.
Meaning of the word ma
butcongiunzione (però, invece) (conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.") Io gliel'ho detto tante volte, ma non c'è stato verso di farlo ragionare. I've told him so many times, but I just couldn't make him see sense. |
butcongiunzione (e ora) (conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.") Ma passiamo al prossimo tema di discussione. But let's move on to the next topic of discussion. |
butsostantivo maschile (figurato, informale (obiezione, dubbio) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Adesso mangi la minestra e non c'è ma che tenga! Now eat your soup, and no buts about it! |
it's wrong to think badly of someone, but you're very often right
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
allegro ma non troppo(music) |
have the means but not the knowhow
(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
that's for sure
|
a leopard can't change its spots
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
there's a trick but you can't see it
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
crazy but true
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak(biblical) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
alsocongiunzione (allo stesso modo) I also agree with you. |
of course! sure!
|
who are you?, who do you think you are?(colloquial) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
are you stupid or just letting on?, are you stupid or just pretending to be stupid?
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
what do you mean?
|
Come on! Seriously?interiezione (scherzoso, faceto (suvvia) (surprise) (interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!") Ma dai! Non esagerare! Come on! Don't overdo it! |
Come on! Seriously?interiezione (ironico (finto stupore) (interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!") |
where have you been?
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") That happened weeks ago! Where have you been? |
give me a break!
|
don't make me laugh!
|
well look at that, well imagine that(sarcastic) |
well, look at that!
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
well, really!
|
but, really!(exasperation) |
How on earth(surprise) |
do you think?(incredulous) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
I wouldn't even dream of it
|
you don't say!interiezione (ironico, sarcastico (finto stupore) (not surprised) "Carlo ha perso di nuovo le chiavi di casa". "Ma non mi dire!". "Carlo has lost the house keys again". "You don't say!" |
don't even mention it, you're very welcome
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
never! no way! it's out of the question!(colloquiale (figuriamoci!) (colloquial) |
you don't say
(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!") Ma va, non avrei mai pensato che arrivassi in ritardo! C'mon, you didn't really think I would arrive late! |
really? You don't say?(incredulous) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Ma va? Non ci posso credere! |
go away! Go on!(incredulous) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Ma va' al diavolo! |
moderate, but not too much(musical) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
|
in lieu of flowers, please make a charitable contribution(funeral) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
I don't mean to brag, but
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
not have a clue
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
few but goodlocuzione aggettivale |
not practise what you preach
|
that's for sure, that much is certain
(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
without if and buts, no ifs and butslocuzione avverbiale (in maniera univoca) |
Let's learn Italian
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Related words of ma
Updated words of Italian
Do you know about Italian
Italian (italiano) is a Romance language and is spoken by about 70 million people, most of whom live in Italy. Italian uses the Latin alphabet. The letters J, K, W, X and Y do not exist in the standard Italian alphabet, but they still appear in loanwords from Italian. Italian is the second most widely spoken in the European Union with 67 million speakers (15% of the EU population) and it is spoken as a second language by 13.4 million EU citizens (3%). Italian is the principal working language of the Holy See, serving as the lingua franca in the Roman Catholic hierarchy. An important event that helped to the spread of Italian was Napoleon's conquest and occupation of Italy in the early 19th century. This conquest spurred the unification of Italy several decades later and pushed the language of the Italian language. Italian became a language used not only among secretaries, aristocrats and the Italian courts, but also by the bourgeoisie.