3 Ways to Use the Word 'Proprio' in Italian

Lui è proprio una capa tosta!

There are some words in Italian that you won’t fully understand, even after looking them up or hearing them again and again.

If you think like I do, you need lots of examples and a variety of opportunities to use it before it really sticks.

One of these words for me has been proprio.

After doing a ton of research, asking a lot of questions, and using it in the wrong context twenty-six plus times, here are 3 ways I figured out that I can use it.

But first - the definition?

My Ciao textbook says that it means exactly or indeed.

My In viaggio textbook says that it means one’s own or just, really, and exactly.

WordReference will tell you that it means all of these things:

• exactly, precisely, really, truly, quite

• own, typical, signature

• of a specific name – proper

• appropriate, suitable, fitting

• one’s own

Finally, dizionario corriere tell us that it means: 

• characteristic, specific, typical

• subject of the third person in an impersonal phrase

• suitable, appropriate

• truly, really, precisely, exactly

• to reinforce/emphasize a certain point

A lot, right?

Let’s break it down to see how we can use it in actual conversation.

Hear it

Open this page and then click the blue play button. (He sounds a little like a Shakespearean drama teacher.)

3 Main Ways to Use Proprio