Is it a noun? A verb? Perhaps an adverb? Or even a filler word? The answer is: all of them! Appunto is a word we use a lot in Italian and in many different contexts, which makes it a must-know. Let’s explore its many personalities.
appunto
1. Appunto = I note down
Appunto is the first-person singular present form of the verb appuntare, whose primary meaning is “to note down,” though it can also translate to “to pin” or “to sharpen.”
Ogni mattina appunto sull’agenda le cose da fare.
Every morning I note down my to-do list in my planner.
In everyday spoken Italian, we often add the pronoun mi and say mi appunto. It’s a bit like emphasizing that we are taking the note for our own benefit, so we don’t forget it.
Mi appunto il vostro numero così vi faccio sapere se si liberano dei posti.
I’ll note down your number so I can let you know if any spots open up.
2. Appunto = Note
Sticking with the writing theme, appunto is also a noun that indicates a short note written on paper or a phone to remember something. While you can write a single appunto (usually a specific reminder, a sticky note, or a message left for someone), you will most often hear the plural form gli appunti (notes in the collective sense, like those you take in class).
Le ho lasciato un appunto sulla scrivania.
I left her a note on her desk.
Che bella lezione, ho preso un sacco di appunti!
What a great class, I took tons of notes!
Here are some useful phrases involving notes:
- Lasciare un appunto: To leave a note
- Prendere appunti: To take notes
- Prendere due appunti al volo: To jot down a couple of quick notes
- Passare gli appunti: To share your notes with someone (a staple of university life! If you miss a class, just ask a friend: Mi passi gli appunti?)
- Riorganizzare gli appunti: To organize rough notes
- Ricopiare gli appunti: To rewrite your notes (usually to make them neater)
- Un blocco appunti: A notepad / scratchpad
3. Appunto = Observation, critique
As a noun, appunto has a second meaning and refers to an observation, a remark, or a mild critique. Nothing harsh or aggressive, more like a “verbal note” to point out something that needs to be fixed or improved. In this context, it is almost always used in the singular form.
Il capo ci ha fatto un appunto riguardo la gestione interna dei documenti.
The boss pointed out an issue with how we handle documents internally.
In this sense, appunto is used in expressions like:
- Fare un appunto: To raise a point, to make a remark. To sound less critical, you can add the adjective piccolo (small).
Vorrei solo fare un piccolo appunto prima di procedere: qualcuno ha considerato i costi?
I’d just like to raise a quick point before we move on: has anyone considered the costs?
- Muovere un appunto: To raise a point, to make a remark. This sounds a bit more formal, almost slightly bureaucratic.
Il cliente ci ha mosso un appunto a proposito dei tempi di consegna.
The client made a remark about the delivery times.
- Mi permetto un appunto…: If I may make a point… This is a very polite way to soften an observation before you say it.
Bel lavoro! Mi permetto solo un appunto: aggiungerei un esempio per chiarire questo concetto.
Great work! If I may make just one point: I would add an example to clarify this concept.
4. Appunto = Exactly, precisely, just, actually
We also use appunto as an adverb, similar in meaning to “exactly,” “precisely,” or “just.” It’s extremely common in spoken Italian and serves to emphasize things like timing, agreement, or purpose.
Because the exact shade of meaning often depends on context, seeing it in action is the best way to understand how it works. To give you some examples, here are three common scenarios:
- To emphasize that our action or intention aligns perfectly with what the other person is talking about.
A: Hai sentito cos’è successo in piazza?
Did you hear what happened in the square?
B: Stavo appunto andando a vedere.
I was actually on my way to check.
- To express perfect timing, stressing that someone appeared or something happened at the exact moment we needed them.
A: Buongiorno ragazzi!
Morning guys!
B: Eccoti! Stavamo appunto cercando te.
There you are! We were just looking for you
- To show total agreement. In this case, appunto is mostly used as a one-word exclamation, implying that what the other person said is obvious or proves what you were already thinking or saying. It’s very close to infatti when used this way.
A: Ma come si fa a essere così maleducati?
How can someone be so rude?
B: Appunto!
Exactly!
We also have two related expressions:
- Per l’appunto: Precisely, indeed, exactly so. We use it when we want to confirm why an action was taken. It’s a bit more emphatic than just saying appunto.
So che ci sei rimasta male e ti ho telefonato per l’appunto per chiarire la situazione.
I know you were upset, and I called you precisely to clear things up.
A: Quindi non hanno comprato la macchina perché costava troppo?
So, they didn’t buy the car because it was too expensive?
B: Per l’appunto.
Exactly so / That is precisely the reason.
- Giustappunto: Precisely, just. This is a compound of giusto (right, just) + appunto (precisely), and it’s typically used to highlight a timing coincidence. Like per l’appunto, it’s a bit stronger and more expressive than simply saying appunto.
A: Avete sentito che domani ci sarà lo sciopero di treni e aerei?
Did you hear there’s going to be a train and plane strike tomorrow?
B: Stavamo giustappunto parlando di questo.
We were just talking about that.
A: Ho una fame!
I’m so hungry!
B: Stavamo giustappunto pensando di ordinare delle pizze.
We were actually just thinking of ordering pizza.
5. Appunto as a filler word
In spoken Italian, appunto often functions as a filler word. But unlike fillers like cioè(I mean) or praticamente (basically), which are mostly used to buy time, appunto is there to act as a bridge between ideas, making sure the connection is clear for the listener.
There is no single English word that does the same job. Depending on the context, it often translates to “obviously,” “precisely,” or “as you know.”
Let’s clarify with some examples:
- Sto cercando di perdere qualche chilo. Non ho mangiato la torta perché appunto sono a dieta. (I’m trying to lose a few kilos. I didn’t eat the cake because, obviously, I’m on a diet). Here, appunto signals that the reason (being on a diet) is the obvious cause of the action.
- Ho comprato il biglietto flessibile perché pensavo che sarebbe stato appunto utile in caso di ritardi. (I bought the flexible ticket because I thought it would be useful precisely in case of delays). In this case, appunto highlights the link between the flexibility and the potential delays.
- Questa è la sala del trono, che è appunto l’ambiente più importante del palazzo. (This is the throne room, which is, of course, the most important room in the palace). In this sentence, appunto emphasizes that this room is obviously the most important one.
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
