How to use ALLORA in Italian

I think this is probably on of the most favorite words that my Italian students learn and use immediately. It’s a very versatile word and it can be used in many way and many context. In this video I will take you down a list of possible options that will make you fall in love with this little word…trust me you will start using it immediately!

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The first most common translation is with the English word so. Just like the English word SO has so many possible uses also does the word ALLORA.

• Allora, com’è stato il viaggio? (So, how was the trip?)
• Allora, cosa vuoi? (So, what do you want?)

Please note that you do not have a fixed position of this word inside of a sentence, because it can be placed at the beginning, in the middle or at the end or it can even be used alone to form a sentence!

I would say that just like the English word so you need to understand and study the context n which you are using this little word. 

It can be used as a greeting "Allora… come stai?" to say hey what’s ups how are you? 

Or it can be a word used a warning.

I know I used it often with my children for example if I hear a lot of noise and I just want to be sure they know I’m close by and can see everything I can drop an ALLORA??? to say… hey… what’s happening?

Very often it’s usually an "Allora basta!" which is more of "well enough!" meaning "stop what you are doing immediately!"

The tone really does matter and is very important with this word.

• You can make allora a question by rising up your tone and saying Allora? (watch the video to understand the tone change)
• If you are using it with an exclamation mark it become more of an ALLORA!!! meaning C’mon!

You can use it a filler word… when you are wondering… in this case you need to change intonation and go with a thoughtful ALLLORA… so like a “uhmmm or “uh” kind of sound we use it when we need a little extra time to think of an answer or we are just truly wondering.

For example if somebody asks me for directions and I need to think about what I will tell them I will probably say…

• Allora… prendi la seconda strada a destra.
• Allora… fammi pensare.
• Allora… vediamo un po’

If your intonation is more like of a happy cheerful one and you say allooooraaa… stretching out the oooo sound a bit and you are using it to introduce a thought that’s being formed you can say…

• Alloooooraa cosa fai domani?
• Allooooraaa cosa ne pensi di uscire insieme a cena?

You can also use it to say… "Okay, let’s go!" and in this case you will say : 

• "Allora, andiamo!"

Another common translation is when it is used as "THEN". In this case you will use it to show a sequence of actions of things. 

• Trova un amico Solo allora potrai veramente essere felice (Find a friend only then you can truly be happy)
• Se sono arrivati, allora possiamo cominciare la riunione. (If they have arrived, then we can start the meeting.)

"Allora" can also be used in reference with the past so with the meaning of at that time, back in the days, back then.

• “Pensa a come doveva essere la nostra città allora. (Think of what our city must have been like back then.)
• Guarda com’era bella già allora. (Look how beautiful she was, already back then)

“Allora” can also be translated as “since then” or “ever since,” where something has happened and it has brought lasting results or changes. So, “ever since” that event, “this” is the continuing result, as in “Ever since I tried real Italian gelato, I can’t stop eating it!” - "Da allora non posso più smettere di mangiare gelato!“

Please note that you will use the formula DA ALLORA. You will need to use that extra DA before ALLORA.