Italian Word Speed Dates: Finché & Affinché

Dovevo fare l’esame affinché potessi iscrivermi all’università.

“Finché” and “affinché” are two words in Italian that look strikingly similar, but do they have similar meanings?

While they don’t mean similar things, they DO have a similar function, and that’s to connect sentences together, much like “quindi” or “dunque”.

Here are two rounds of speed dates to help you figure out how to use the words “finché” and “affinché” in Italian.

Round #1: Finché

According to a mix of dictionaries from all over the Interwebs, “finché” can mean:

• As long as

• So long as

• Until

• As far as

• While

It can be used in a variety of ways, but I want to talk about my favorite first — to say dramatic things.

• Non mi dimenticherò mai di te finché sarò vivo! – I’ll never forget about you as long as I am alive.