How to use "proprio"

In this video I'm gonna explain how to use the word "proprio" in Italian. Specifically, I'm gonna explain the word "proprio" used as an adverb. Meaning that I'm not gonna talk about "proprio" used as an adjective, I'll only talk about "proprio" used as an adverb.

I've noticed that online there's plenty of video lessons on the word "proprio", in which the instructor makes mind-blowing confusion. For example, I've seen lessons which are 5 to 10 minutes long in which they explain all the functions that the word "proprio" can have in a sentence.

Given that "proprio" is a complex word which can have completely different functions, explaining all its meanings in one single 5-minute lesson is the best way to create further confusion.

Therefore, in my opinion, such explanations are not optimal. To put it bluntly, they are f.u., that is, (beep) useless.

But don't worry! If you wish to understand how to use "proprio", you've come to the right place!

I am Luca and I welcome you to my channel!

Like I said, in this lesson I'm gonna give you real-life examples with the word "proprio" used as an adverb. In particular, I'll explain 3 different ways of using the adverb "proprio".

But let's not waste time and let's jump straight into the first meaning of the adverb "proprio"!

The first example sentence could be this: "Quel film è proprio bello!"

What does it mean? "Quel film è veramente bello". Or: "quel film è davvero bello". So in this case the adverb "proprio" can be replaced by words such as "veramente" or "davvero". Basically, in this sentence the adverb "proprio" makes the adjective "bello" stronger.

Another example sentence could be this: "Questa pizza è proprio squisita!"

What does it mean? This pizza is really delicious. This pizza is truly delicious. In this case too the adverb "proprio" makes the adjective stronger.

What's the difference between saying "è squisita" and "è proprio squisita"? The second phrase is even stronger. That is, "è proprio squisita" is a stronger version of "è squisita".

Another example sentence with "proprio" could be this: "Queste lezioni di italiano sono proprio utili!"

What does this sentence mean? These Italian lessons are really useful. Or: they are truly useful.

Another example sentence could be: "Ma ne sei proprio sicuro?"

In this case too the adverb "proprio" makes the adjective stronger. If I ask someone if they are "proprio sicuro/a" of something, I'm asking them if they are 100% sure of this thing. In other words, someone who is "proprio sicuro/a" of something is absolutely certain of that.

Another example sentence with "proprio" could be: "Hai proprio ragione! Sono assolutamente d'accordo con te".

In this case too "proprio" doesn't change the meaning of the sentence, but makes the sentence stronger.

Another example sentence could be this: "Laura vuole proprio farmi arrabbiare!" - what (sweet Christmas) intonation was that!?

"Laura vuole proprio farmi arrabbiare!"

"Laura vuole proprio farmi arrabbiare!"

What does it mean? Laura really wants to make me angry. Again, "proprio" makes the sentence stronger.

Another example could be: "Questo vestito ti sta prop..."

"Questo vestito ti sta proprio bene!"

What does it mean? This dress suits you very well.

Another example sentence could be: "Enough! Stop saying that studying grammar is harmful! Mi hai proprio stancato!"

What does "Mi hai proprio stancato" mean? It means: you have really tired me out, you have truly tired me out. A sentence with "proprio" is stronger than a sentence without it. If I say "Mi hai stancato!" - that's one thing. If I say "Mi hai proprio stancato!", this sentence is stronger.

Another example sentence with "proprio" could be: "Ho bisogno di dormire. Sono proprio stanco!"

What does it mean? I'm really tired.

Another example could be: "Questo corso di italiano è fatto proprio bene!"

What does it mean? This Italian course is really well made.

Another example sentence could be: "Cristina always comes late to work. Vuole proprio farsi licenziare!"

In this case too the adverb "proprio" makes the sentence stronger.

But let's see the second use of the adverb "proprio"!

The first example sentence could be this: "Yes, you got it right! Il direttore ha detto proprio così!"

What does "ha detto proprio così" mean? It means: he said exactly that.

Another example sentence could be: "Roberto è arrivato proprio adesso".

What does it mean? Roberto has arrived in this precise moment. That is, if someone says "è arrivato proprio adesso", they probably mean: he arrived less than one minute ago, he arrived few seconds ago.

Another example could be: "Il treno è partito proprio ora".

What does it mean? The train left just now, that is, it didn't leave 15 minutes ago, it didn't leave 10 minutes ago, it left few seconds ago.

Another example sentence could be: "Yes, they told you the truth. È andata proprio così".

What does this sentence mean? It went exactly this way.

So, as you can see, the word "proprio" can be replaced by adverbs such as "esattamente" or "precisamente". You can say "È andata esattamente così", you can say "È andata precisamente così", or alternatively you can say "È andata proprio così".

Another example could be this: "You have come just in time! Stavamo parlando proprio di te!"

What does "Stavamo parlando proprio di te" mean? We were talking precisely about you, we were talking exactly about you.

Another example sentence with the adverb "proprio" could be: "Il problema è proprio questo".

What does it mean? The problem is precisely this.

Another example could be: "L'articolo di cui ti ho parlato è proprio quello".

How could I paraphrase this sentence? "L'articolo di cui ti ho parlato è esattamente quello". Or: "l'articolo di cui ti ho parlato è precisamente quello".

Another example sentence could be this: "Proprio oggi doveva piovere! Non poteva piovere domani?"

Well, let's say that this sentence is more difficult to paraphrase and explain in an abstract way.

A similar example could be this: "Ma proprio a me doveva succedere questa cosa?"

And another sentence similar to these two sentences could be: "Ma proprio qui ti dovevi sedere?! C'è il treno vuoto e ti dovevi sedere proprio qui?!"

Like... - like I said earlier, the adverb proprio is close in meaning to the adverbs "esattamente", "precisamente".

But let's see the third and last usage of the adverb "proprio"!

The first example sentence could be this: "Quel film non mi è proprio piaciuto!"

What does "non mi è proprio piaciuto" mean? It means: I didn't like it at all. Or: I didn't like it one bit. That is, it doesn't mean I didn't like it much, but it means I didn't like it at all.

Another example sentence could be this: "Non è che ha capito una cosa leggermente diversa. Non ha proprio capito!"

What does it mean? This person didn't understand anything. "Non ha proprio capito" means: they didn't understand anything.

The third example could be this: "Oggi non ho proprio mangiato".

What does it mean? Today I didn't eat anything. That is, it's not that I had a snack: I didn't eat anything at all.

So the word "proprio" in negative sentences conveys the idea of absolute zero.

Another example sentence could be this: "Non mi ha avvisato in ritardo. Non mi ha avvisato proprio!" Or, other people would say: "Non mi ha avvisato in ritar..." - (sweet Christmas) I can't speak! "Non mi ha avvisato in ritardo, non mi ha proprio avvisato!"

How should you understand this sentence? This person didn't tell anything to me.

The last example could be this: "Non voglio dire che fa poco esercizio fisico, voglio dire che non ne fa proprio!"

In this case too the word "proprio" conveys the idea of absolute zero.

Well, I hope you liked this video and this red wine shirt!

If you have found this video helpful, please, leave an amazing Like below, so that I understand that you like this type of contents.

In the future I'm probably gonna make another video where I'll explain the word "proprio" used as an adjective. Like I said, though, given that this is a rather complex word, I preferred to keep the two things apart.

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