How to use MICA in Italian

❤️ If you like my videos click on the super thanks heart under the videos! ❤️ 

Level-up your Italian listening and comprehension skills with my podcast!

Need help with pronunciation? My 5 star course will do the trick!

Ever heard of the word MICA? are you wondering how to use it correctly? Then you are on the right video! I will tell you how to translate it and use it correctly in Italian!

Download the FREE lesson here!

It’s a tiny word but very important and super common and you will want to make sue that you know what it means! 

The first thing that you need to take into consideration is that the word mica is very versatile and informal. It doesn’t truly have a precise translation into English and its meaning can change depending on the context. Since it’s so versatile it is very difficult for students to understand its meaning and use it correctly. 

The main use of mica is with negative sentences, but it can also be used with questions. 

WITH NEGATIVE SENTENCES:

When you think of negative sentences you think of the word NON and you are 100% correct because that is how you create negative sentences. MICA itself is considered a negative word and it very often comes together with NON or it can replace it entirely. We can say that MICA helps to strengthen the negative sentence.

With negative sentences mica can be translated to 

• not at all
• not one bit
• not in the least

Let’s have a look at some examples which will help you understand better:

• Non è mica vero! (It’s not true at all!)
• Non è mica male! (It’s not bad at all!)
• Non costa mica tanto. (It’s not expensive at all!).
• Non sono mica stanca. (I am not in the least tired).
• Non mi piace mica. (I don’t like it one bit).

As you can see all the above examples have NON in them. You can actually use MICA without the non this is why I said that it is considered a negative particle and that it sometimes replaces NON. 

You will need to use mica before the verb:

• mica è vero! (It is not true at all!)
• mica sta male! (I’m not feeling good at all!)
• mica costa tanto. (It is not at all expensive).

It’s also used to give extra emphasis and as a reinforcement of what you are denying. In this case I would translate mica with obviously, definitely, certainly, and surely.

Here are some examples in sentences:

• Non è mica uno scherzo! (It’s certainly not a joke!)
• Non sto mica bene! (I’m obviously not feeling well!)
• Non l’ho mica fatto apposta! (Obviously, I didn’t do it on purpose!)
• Non glielo dico mica! - (I’m surely not going to tell him!)
• Non si è mica presentato! - (He obviously didn’t show up)

WITH QUESTIONS

In this case you are going to use it with rhetorical questions so questions for which you are already expecting a no as an answer or questions used to be super polite.  

In these cases , mica could be translated as by any chance or do you happen to.

• Hai mica una matita rossa? - Do you happen to have a red pencil by any chance?
• Non avete mica trovato la mia borsa? - Have you found my bag by any chance?
• Mica hai una gomma da masticare? Do you have a chewing gum by chance?
• Mica sei arrabbiata con me, vero? You are not mad with me by chance?

Please note a little extra info on the expression mica male!

This is super common expression and it happens to be used in a positive way meaning that it will describe a positive opinion!

For example, if you liked this video lesson you can say in the comments 

“mica male questo video! :)” meaning… nice video!