infatti Italian · revision 38372

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1566, Lionardo Salviati}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /inˈfat.ti/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''infatti'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound [[af|it|in|fatti]], the preposition with the plural of [[fatto|t=fact]], literally “in facts, in reality”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) It is the same phrase as the older spelling written separately, ⟨in fatti⟩, which literary usage kept beside the joined form.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The parallel compound [[difatti]] was formed in the same way.^(DELI 1999)

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+ DEI and GDLI compare [[fr|en effet]], and Wiktionary also compares the English [[m|en|in fact]].^(DEI|2014)^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI dates the word to 1566, in Lionardo Salviati, with the sense “in reality, truly”.^(DELI 1999) Zingarelli gives an earlier date, before 1516, and DEI dates the phrase ''in fatti'' to the 14th century.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DEI|2014)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As late as 1855 the grammarian Ugolini held that ''infatti'' and ''difatti'' should be written as separate words.^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo, on the contrary, wanted ''infatti'' written as one word, and distinguished it from ''invero'': it brings in a proof drawn from the facts.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

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+ GDLI's quotations, from Casti and Foscolo onwards, show it adding evidence for what has just been said, often after the first word of its clause, as in Manzoni's ''Agnese infatti, quando si parlava di lei, era già poco lontana'' (“Agnese in fact, when they spoke of her, was already not far away”).^(GDLI) In dialogue it is used alone as an answer of agreement, and ironically to say that what was promised did not happen.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 14th century – ''In fatti'' is recorded as a phrase, according to DEI.^(DEI|2014)

+ * Before 1516 – Zingarelli's first record of the word.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 1566 – Lionardo Salviati uses ''infatti''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1855 – Ugolini still asks for the separate spelling ''in fatti''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # [[m|en|indeed]], in fact: introduces a clause that confirms or explains what was said before: ''Era stanco, infatti si è addormentato sul divano.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(ironic)'' Used to point out that something expected did not happen: ''Aveva promesso di chiamare, e infatti non s'è fatto sentire.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In answers: [[m|en|exactly]], just so: “''Sembra difficile.''” “''Infatti!''”^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fatto]]

+ * [[difatti]]

+ * [[fr|en effet]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Infatti'' and ''difatti'' are synonyms, and ''in effetti'' is close in meaning.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) The conjunction can come first in its clause or after the first word, usually set off by commas.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}