What does "mica" mean in Italian?

In this video I'll talk about the Italian adverb "mica". I'm gonna explain the main meanings of this adverb and how to use it.

This video-lesson is aimed at those amazing people who are learning Italian as a second language.

More specifically, this video is geared toward those who understand Italian, but would like to speak good Italian.

If you are learning Italian and would like to speak it fluently, you are in the right place!

(Channel Intro)

Hi, everybody, I am Luca and in this video I wanted to talk about the adverb "MICA".

This video is my reply to a request I received not long ago from one of my subscribers, who specifically asked me to explain this word.

This person rightly noted that the word "mica" is rather complex and therefore asked me to make a video about this word.

Alright. I would say that the word "mica" is complex and problematic because in actual fact it can be used in 4 different ways. The first two usages are undoubtedly the most common.

Before I start, let me say that "mica" is an adverb belonging to the informal or colloquial style. So it's typical of spoken Italian. I advise you against using this adverb when you write something.

That is, in other words, this is not a formal word, but on the contrary it's a colloquial and informal word, which is used almost exclusively in speaking. Or rather, it should be avoided in writing.

Alright. First of all, the word "mica" can be used in negative clauses after the verb, to strenghten the negation. That is, to emphasize such negation.

For example, we can add the word "mica" to the negative clause "Non sono stupido". In this case we get the sentence "Non sono mica stupido". Exclamation mark. Which more likely should be pronounced like so: "Non sono mica stupido!". "Non sono mica stupido!"

What does "mica" mean in this case?

It doesn't mean anything. Or better, it's not that it means nothing, it is used to emphasize, that is, to make stonger, the negation.

In this sense "mica" has a meaning similar to "affatto" or "per niente". So when someone says "Non sono mica stupido", they mean "Non sono affatto stupido".

Another example could be: "Non è mica stupida!". What does it mean? She isn't stupid at all. She is not stupid in the slightest.

See? The word "mica" doesn't have a meaning in the strict sense. It's used to emphasize the negation. That is, if we remove "mica" from these sentences, nothing happens, nothing changes. The sentence may sound a bit less strong.

I mean, if I remove the adverb "mica" from the sentence "Non sono mica stupido", I get the sentence "Non sono stupido". And someone could argue that the second sentence is a bit less strong.

Another example could be the sentence: "Non sono mica arrabbiato". What does it mean? I'm not angry at all. That is: "Non sono arrabbiato per niente". Or: "Non sono affatto arrabbiato".

Another example could be: "Quest'esame non è mica facile!" - Yeah, what kind of *** intonation was that?!

Another example could be: "Quest'esame non è mica facile!". What does it mean? It simply means: this exam is not easy. Basically, the word "mica", the adverb "mica", emphasizes the negation.

But let's take a slightly more complex sentence. Let's consider the sentence "Non devi fare così!".

Well, I can add MICA also to this type of sentences. Thus, my sentence will become: "Non devi mica fare così!" Again, the meaning remains unchanged, generally speaking. The word "mica" simply strenghten the negation.

Similarly, if I have the sentence "Non dovevi dirglielo!", I can add "mica" and my phrase becomes: "Non dovevi mica dirglielo!".

See?!

Also in this case the meaning remains unchanged. Or better, the word "mica" emphasizes the negation. It strenghtens the clause.

So the most important thing to keep in mind about this usage of "mica" is this: the word "mica" emphasizes the negation and, secondly, "mica" follows the verb. So we find "mica" in a negative clause after the verb.

So in these sentences there are both the adverb "non" and the word "mica". In particular, "mica" follows the verb.

Keep this in mind, because there's also another way of using "mica" which is quite different.

"Mica" can also be used at the beginning of affirmative clauses as adverb of negation meaning "non".

For example, if I place the adverb of negation "mica" in front of an affirmative clause such as "Sono stupido", I get "Mica sono stupido!". What does it mean? I'm not stupid! So in this case "mica" is the same as "non".

Earlier I gave you an example with the word "mica" after the verb. My sentence was: "Non sono mica stupido!". Can you see the difference? In one case it was "Non sono mica stupido", in the other "Mica sono stupido". The meaning is the same.

Next, I gave you the example "Non è mica stupida!". Again: negative clause, "mica" comes after the verb. In theory, I could place "mica" at the beginning of the sentence, remove "non" and say "Mica è stupida!".

The other example I gave was: "Non sono mica arrabbiato!". I move "mica" to the beginning of the sentence, I remove "non" and I get: "Mica sono arrabbiato!".

So what's the difference between these two sentence patterns?

There's no difference in meaning. With respect to forms, in one case we have a negative clause, that is, a clause with the adverb "non", and so we have both "mica" and "non". In the other case we have just "mica", but "mica" needs to be at the beginning of the sentence.

I also gave you this example: "Quest'esame non è mica facile". If I place "mica" at the beginning of the sentence, I get: "Mica è facile quest'esame".

Next, I gave you the example "Non devi mica fare così!". Which I could change into: "Mica devi fare così!".

Next we had the sentence "Non dovevi mica dirglielo". Which will become: "Mica dovevi dirglielo".

So, well, these are the two main usages of the adverb "mica".

I for one feel that the second usage of "mica" is rather convoluted for those learning Italian as a foreign language.

However, you just need to understand that, if placed at the beginning of a sentence, "mica" means "non". Or better, it is equal to a very strong "non". Because "mica" introduces a negation which is stronger, if you will, than that introduced by "non".

So what's the main difference between these 2 sentence patterns?

In one case we have a negative clause with "non" and "mica" follows the verb. In the other case there is no "non", because "non" is replaced by "mica", which however must be at the beginning of the sentence.

So in one case, after the verb, "mica" emphasizes the word "non", in the other, before the verb, or in any case at the beginning of the sentence, "mica" replaces "non".

In addition to that, there are 2 more ways to use MICA which are definitely less common.

The adverb "mica" can be used before specific words, such as in "mica tanto" and "mica male". Also in this case "mica" is the same as "non".

So, if someone asks us, for example: "Ti è piaciuto il film?". We can answer them: "Mica tanto!". What does it mean? Not so much.

There's also the phrase "mica male", which essentially means: not bad. But this phrase is typically used to make a compliment, so to speak. That is, "not bad", but intended as a compliment.

For example, if someone makes us a proposal, they explain to us their idea, we can reply to them: "Mica male!". Or: "Mica male come idea!". What does it mean? "Non male come idea!" That is: That's a great idea!

Next, there's also a less common usage of "mica" in dubitative questions.

For example, instead of saying "Hai visto le mie scarpe?", some people say "Hai mica visto le mie scarpe?". In this case "mica" means: Did you see my shoes, by any chance?

Or other people say: "Non sarai mica arrabbiato?". What does it mean? You are not angry, right? "mica" simply emphasizes the negation.

Or, if I'm looking for my eyeglasses holder and I can't find them, someone could ask me: "Non l'avrai mica lasciato sull'autobus?".

What does mica mean in this case?

It doesn't mean anything. I could as easily say: "Non l'avrai lasciato sull'autobus?" It's just a word which is added to strenghten the negation. It's clear that in this case it's not a negation in the strict sense, but if you want you can add "mica".

A question could be: "Non si sarà mica sposato?" In this case as well "mica" doesn't convey any meaning.

Well, that is it!

In any case, the most common usages are the first two. Then you have the phrases "mica tanto" and "mica male". This last usage is more rare, if you will.

If you are interested, not long ago I made a video about a word which in a way is similar to "mica", which is MANCO. This word too is part of colloquial, informal, or spoken Italian.

In the top corner I'll add a card to the video that I made some time ago about the word "manco". If you want to learn a word that is frequently used in speaking, but which isn't usually taught, check this video out!