neanche Italian · revision 37657

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=15th century}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /neˈan.ke/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''neanche''' (invariable; also written as ''né anche''; archaic and Tuscan ''neanco'')^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|it|né|anche|t1=nor|t2=also]], “not also”, written as one word.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The spelling with a space, ⟨né anche⟩, is still found, and older and Tuscan Italian also had ⟨neanco⟩, with the variant [[anco]] of the second part.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

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+ The sources date it differently: Zingarelli gives before 1328, Nocentini, Devoto–Oli and Sabatini–Coletti the 15th century, and DELI and GRADIT 1686, in Paolo Segneri.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Paolo Segneri in 1686, with the sense “absolutely not”, adding a negation to one already expressed.^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo quotes a Gospel translation: “Che se voi non rimetterete, neanche il Padre vostro che è ne' cieli rimetterà a voi i peccati vostri” (for if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The concessive use as a conjunction, “even if … not”, is first recorded in Tommaseo's dictionary in 1869.^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo also has the emphatic answer ''neanche per sogno'' “not even in a dream”, beside which modern Italian uses ''neanche per idea''.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) In colloquial Italian ''neanche'' followed by the subjunctive means “as if”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) It is a synonym of [[nemmeno]] and [[neppure]].^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1328 – Zingarelli's date for ''neanche'' or ''né anche''.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 15th century – The date given by Nocentini and Devoto–Oli.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ * 1686 – Paolo Segneri uses it for “absolutely not”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo records it as a concessive conjunction.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|neither]], not … either, adding a negation to one already expressed: ''Lui non ha capito, e neanche io.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Alone, as a reply: — ''Il pesce non mi piace.'' — ''Neanche a me.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # [[m|en|not even]], strengthening a negation: ''Non ho avuto neanche il tempo di mangiare.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # Not even, excluding every possibility: ''Neanche il più ingenuo ci cascherebbe.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # Even if … not, introducing a concessive clause with the gerund, with ''a'' and the infinitive, or with ''se'': ''Non lo convinci neanche pregandolo in ginocchio.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' As if, with the subjunctive: ''Urlava, neanche fosse in pericolo di vita.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nemmeno]]

+ * [[neppure]]

+ * [[né]]

+ * [[anche]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ When ''neanche'' comes before the verb, the verb takes no ''non'' (''neanche io lo so''); when it follows, ''non'' is needed (''non lo so neanche io'').^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Set replies are ''neanche per sogno'', ''neanche per idea'' and ''neanche per scherzo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''Neanche a farlo apposta'' means “as if on purpose”, of a coincidence.^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}