In Italian the word “come” has quite a few uses. Come can mainly be an adverb and a conjunction. In the Italian language, Come has three common meanings. Learn How to use the Italian word COME and avoid mistakes.
COME means “Uguale”, “allo stesso modo”( like – same as – in the same way in English)
✎ Ex.:
Vorrei diventare un astronauta come Samantha Cristoforetti
I would like to become an astronaut like Samantha Cristoforetti
COME means “Avere una funzione”, “fare un mestiere”( having a role, a job) -> as
✎ Ex.:
Lavoro in questa ditta come impiegato
I work in this office as an employee
COME Means “Indicare il modo”, “indicare il nome” (method, means, name) (How in English)
✎ Ex.:
Ciao Carla, come stai? Come va? Come sei arrivata a Milano?
Hi Carla, how are you doing? How are you? How did you come to Milan?
COME con altre parole:
COME MAI
Quando COME è seguito da mai significa “perchè” (Why when followed by “Mai” it means Why
✎ Ex.:
Come mai è andata a Firenze?
Why he went to Florence?
COME SE
In Italian, despite the tense of the main sentence, this conjunction always requires the use of the imperfect or past perfect subjunctive.
Lo guarda come se lo vedesse per la prima volta.
Lo guardava come se lo vedesse per la prima volta
PRACTICE “COME SE” + Subjunctive (for advanced learners)
Listen and Learn with songs: 🔗 Come mai
Useful Expressions with COME
- Come al solito -> as usual
- Come la mettiamo? -> What are we going to do with it?
Ex.: La macchina è rotta, come la mettiamo? - Come non detto -> never mind
- Cieco come un talpa – lit. blind as a mole (blind as a bat)
- Come il cacio sui maccheroni – lit as macaroni and cheese (just what the doctor ordered)
Ex.: la tua frase è come il cacio sui maccheroni
What’s next?
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