How to sound more natural in Italian: The 10 connectors used by native speakers

The 10 connectives that native speakers use every day—and that no textbook teaches you. Use them and stop sounding like a grammar book.

Allora, insomma, comunque, eppure… if you already know these words, this article will give you the context you were missing.

There comes a point in learning any language when you stop searching for words and start searching for fluency. In Italian, that leap is often hidden in small words—connectors, discourse markers, expressive fillers—that native speakers use constantly but that textbooks rarely explain well.

Your grammar may be impeccable. Your vocabulary is extensive. But if you don't use the right connectors, your Italian will sound correct—and artificial. Like someone reciting a text instead of having a conversation.

In this article, we'll look at the 10 most frequently used connectors in spoken Italian, with real-world examples, nuances of usage, and the most common mistakes to avoid. At the end, you'll also find a quick reference table to keep them handy.

The missing piece in your Italian

Discourse markers are words or expressions that serve to link ideas, organize discourse, express contrast, concession, consequence, or simply buy time to think. In spoken conversation, they are absolutely fundamental—they are the connective tissue of spoken language.

In Italian, they also have a special characteristic: many of them are polysemous, that is, they have several meanings depending on the tone and contextAllora  can mean "then," "well," "let's see," or it can even be a call for attention. Knowing these nuances is what separates a competent speaker from one who sounds like a native.

The connectors that native Italians use

These are the 10 most frequent connectors in conversational Italian, ordered by frequency of use in everyday spoken language.

1. Allora: Discourse connector. So · Well · Okay · Let's see.

The most frequently used connector in spoken Italian, without a doubt. It serves to introduce a response, resume the thread of a conversation, organize thoughts, or simply fill a pause. Its closest equivalent in English is "pues" or "entonces," although with a much broader range of use. At the beginning of a sentence, it can function as a "let's see..." that leads into what we are about to say. Examples:

• Allora, cosa facciamo stasera?? → So, what are we doing tonight?
• Allora... aspetta, ci penso → Let's see... wait, let me think about it.

2. Comunque: Concessive / Resuming. Anyway · In any case · However · Well

One of the most versatile connectors in Italian. It can express concession ("anyway"), pick up where a conversation left off ("getting back to the topic"), or soften a contradiction. Italians use it constantly to redirect conversations or conclude one argument before moving on to another.Examples:

• Comunque, non importa. Parliamo d'altro → Anyway, it doesn't matter. Let's talk about something else.
• Comunque tu avevi ragione → In any case, you were right.

3. Però: Adversative. But · However · Although

The quintessential adversative in Italian. It is directly equivalent to the English "but," with one important difference: in colloquial Italian, it can appear at the end of a sentence to add a nuance of surprise or emphasis, something that sounds unusual in Spanish. It is also used as a standalone exclamation of admiration. Examples:

• Mi piace, però è troppo caro. → I like it, but it's too expensive.
• Però! Che bella sorpresa!  → Wow! What a lovely surprise!

4. Insomma: Summarizer / Expressive. In summary · So, in short · That is to say · Well (with reservations)

One of the most expressive connectors in Italian. It can summarize ("in short, so to speak..."), express ambiguity or mild dissatisfaction ("so-so," "it's not bad, but..."), or simply be a filler word to buy time. The tone in which it is pronounced completely changes its meaning: spoken quickly and with a rising intonation, it's a filler word; spoken with a pause and a flat intonation, it expresses resignation or doubt. Examples:

• Insomma, non so cosa dirti → In short, I don't know what to tell you.
• — Com’è andata? — Insomma… → — How was it? — Pchh, so-so…

5. Quindi: Consecutive. Therefore · So · Then (consequence)

The most neutral and frequent consecutive connector in Italian, equivalent to "then" or "so" when expressing logical consequence. It is used in both spoken and written Italian and is completely versatile. Note: in Italian, "allora" and "quindi" are not always interchangeable—"allora" has more of a temporal nuance or indicates a continuation of a thought, while "quindi" always indicates a consequence. Examples:

• Non hai studiato, quindi hai fallito. → You didn't study, therefore you failed.
• Quindi sei d'accordo con me? → So, you agree with me?

6. Eppure: ConcExsive / Surprise. And yet · Even so · But still

It expresses a contradiction or surprise at something that shouldn't be the case given what came before. It's the equivalent of the Spanish "y sin embargo" (and yet), with a notable dramatic or emotional charge. Italians use it to emphasize that something is surprising, unexpected, or contradictory. It's less frequent than "però" (but) or "comunque" (nevertheless) but very expressive. Examples:

• L'ho detto mille volte, eppure non capisce → I've said it a thousand times, and yet he doesn't understand.
• Eppure sembrava così sicuro di sé  → And yet he seemed so self-assured.

7. Anzi: Rectifying / Intensifying. What's more · On the contrary · Rather · In fact

One of the most difficult connectives to translate into Spanish. It serves to correct, intensify, or even contradict what has just been said, but in a way that goes even further in the same or opposite direction. It is different from "però" (simple adversative): "anzi" always implies a further step, a correction, or an intensification. Examples:

• Non è bello, anzi è bellissimo! → It's not just pretty, it's gorgeous!
• Non lo odio, anzi mi è simpatico → I don't hate him, on the contrary, I like him.

8. Magari: Modal / Desiderativethe. QiniI wish. Maybe. I wish! Why not?

One of the most characteristic words in Italian, and one of the most challenging for Spanish speakers. It can express possibility ("perhaps"), intense desire ("I wish/I really wish"), a friendly suggestion ("Why not?"), or an enthusiastic positive response. Context and tone change everything. It's one of those words you have to feel before you can use it well. Examples:

• Magari vengo anche io → Maybe I'll go too.
• — Vorresti vincere la lotteria? — Magari! → — Would you like to win the lottery? — I wish!

9. Cioè: Reformulator / Clarifier.In other words · That is to say · Or what amounts to the same thing

The quintessential reformulator in spoken Italian. A direct equivalent to the Spanish "o sea," it serves to clarify, rephrase, or emphasize what has just been said. In colloquial Italian, especially among young people, it can be used as a filler word with almost no semantic value, just as in Spanish we overuse "o sea." Essential for sounding natural in informal conversations. Examples:

• Sono stanco, cioè non riesco a stare sveglio → I'm tired, I mean, I can't stay awake.
• Cioè, cosa vuoi dire esattamente? → So, what exactly do you mean?
  

10. Infatti: Confirmative / Causal. Indeed · In fact · Indeed · It's because

It confirms or corroborates what has just been said, or introduces the cause or explanation of something. Very similar to the Spanish "efectamente" or "de hecho," but with an even broader use. Beware of the false friend: "infatti" does NOT mean "in fact" in the sense of "actually" or "to be precise"—in that case, Italians would use "in realtà." "Infatti" always confirms, never corrects. Examples:

• — Sembra stanco — Infatti, non ha dormito → — He looks tired — Indeed, he didn't sleep.
• I wanted to call you, so here I am.→ I wanted to call you, and here I am.

⚠️ Error frequent: Don't confuse “infatti” with “in realtà”. “Infatti" confirms and agrees; "in realtà" contradicts or qualifies. Saying "hai torto, infatti…" (you are right…) would be incorrect — if you want to correct, use "in realtà, invece…"

Summary table: the 10 connectors at a glance

Save this table for reference. Include the main use, the equivalent in Spanish, and whether the connector is more appropriate for spoken, written, or both registers.

The best way to incorporate these connectors into your Italian

Knowing a connector and being able to use it fluently are two very different things. Here are some concrete strategies to truly internalize them and not just memorize them.

Active listening with Italian series and podcasts

Connectives are creatures of spoken language. The best way to absorb them is by exposing yourself to real conversations. Series like Boris, Suburra, or Gomorrah are full of authentic colloquial Italian. Every time you hear one of these connectives, make a note of it along with the context: what was said before, what the tone was, what it expressed.

Practice one at a time for a whole week

The most common mistake is trying to learn all ten at once. Choose one—start with allora, which is the most frequent and versatile—and consciously use it in all your Italian conversations and writing for a full week. Once you feel comfortable with it, move on to the next one.

Record yourself speaking

Self-correction works much better when you listen to your own Italian. Record yourself for two or three minutes speaking about anything, then listen and pay attention to how many connectors you use (or how many you're missing). Silences or repetitions of "e... e... e..." are a sign that you need more connectors in your toolbox.

💡 Advanced advice

Many of these connectors have a more formal equivalent: allora → dunque; però → tuttavia; insomma → in sintesi. If you learn the colloquial ones first, the formal ones will be much easier later. The path to fluency always leads through natural speech.

From correct Italian to natural Italian: the next step

Speaking Italian fluently doesn't require an encyclopedic vocabulary or perfect grammar. It requires that connective tissue that makes your ideas flow, your sentences link together naturally, and your listener feel like they're talking to someone who thinks in Italian, not someone who translates.

These ten connectors are your starting point. They aren't the only ones—colloquial Italian has many more—but they're the ones that will have the most immediate impact on your fluency. Allora, comunque, magari, cioè… integrate them one by one, with patience and constant exposure to the language, and in a few weeks you'll notice the difference.

And if any Italian asks you where you learned to speak so well, you know what to answer: Magari ho un buon metodo.

With BeNative.pro, you can learn directly from native speakers and prepare to make a great impression in any type of interview. Not sure what your Italian level is yet? Take the test now here.