ancora
still · yet
Oggetto di metallo pesante usato sulle barche per fermarle in un punto del mare o del lago. Può anche significare 'di nuovo' quando indica che qualcosa succede un’altra volta.
The Italian word "ancora" has multiple meanings depending on the context. Here are the main ones:
1. As an adverb
Meaning:
- It means "still," "yet," or "again" in English.
It is used to indicate the continuity of an action or the repetition of an action.
Examples:
- Sono ancora qui. — "I am still here."
- Vuoi mangiare ancora? — "Do you want to eat again?"
- Non ha ancora finito. — "He/She has not finished yet."
Synonyms:
- Ancora (used in this temporal sense) can sometimes be substituted with sempre (always) depending on the sentence, but generally ancora is more about "still/yet" rather than "always."
Antonyms:
- Non più — "no longer" or "not anymore."
2. As a noun
Meaning:
- It means anchor in English, the heavy object used to moor a ship.
Examples:
- La nave ha l'ancora abbassata. — "The ship has the anchor dropped."
- Abbiamo bisogno di un'ancora per fermare la barca. — "We need an anchor to stop the boat."
Etymology:
- The word comes from Latin ancora, and it refers to maritime vocabulary.
Synonyms:
- Il fermo (rarely used as a direct synonym in maritime context). Generally, ancora is the most common term for anchor.
Antonyms:
- No direct antonyms, but conceptually could be something like "sails" or "propeller," which move the ship rather than stop it.
Summary:
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ancora | Adverb | still, yet, again | ancora (positional), sempre (partial) | non più |
| ancora | Noun | anchor (nautical object) | n/a (no direct synonym) | n/a |
"Ancora" is a versatile word in Italian, distinguishable by context as either an adverb related to time or a noun related to maritime terms.
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Examples
Vuoi ancora un caffè?adverb
Do you still want a coffee?
Io non ho ancora finito il lavoro.adverb
I have not finished the work yet.
Piove ancora oggi?adverb
Is it still raining today?
Stiamo ancora aspettando l'autobus per casa.adverb
We are still waiting for the bus home.
Loro sono ancora in vacanza al mare.adverb
They are still on a seaside vacation.
Il bambino dorme ancora.adverb
The child is still sleeping.
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