When to Use “Alla fine”, “Infine” and “Finalmente” - Quando Utilizzare “Alla fine”, “Infine” e “Finalmente”

Let’s Talk Italian With Aronne

Ciao ragazzi! Bentornati nel mio podcast! Nella puntata di oggi, vi insegnerò i diversi significati e i diversi utilizzi delle parole: “Alla fine”, “Infine” e “Finalmente”. Queste parole possono sembrare simili fra loro, ma in realtà, bisogna fare molta attenzione a come e quando utilizzarle perché possono assumere significati completamente diversi tra loro. Vi trascriverò tutti i significati principali di queste parole nella descrizione, dateci un’occhiata!

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Hi guys! Welcome back to my podcast! In today’s episode, I'll teach you the different meanings and uses of the words “Alla fine”, “Infine” and “Finalmente”. They may seem similar to each other, but in reality, you have to be very careful about how and when to use them because they can take on completely different meanings. All the meanings you'll hear during this episode are in the description! Have a good time listening.

Alla fine (At the end, in the end)

It is used to indicate that something happens, indeed, “at the end”, “as the last thing”, after a series of events or after some time. When this expression is accompanied by a genitive case, which tells us “at the end of what”, then it refers to a specific event at the end of which something happened.

Examples:

- Alla fine della lezione tutti gli studenti si sono alzati e sono usciti dalla classe. (At the end of the lesson, all the students stood up and got out of the classroom)

- Ammetto di aver pianto un pochino alla fine del film: era molto commovente. (I admit I cried a little at the end of the movie: it was really touching)

Do not confuse “alla fine” with the expression “alla fin fine”(all things considered), which is a synonym for “in fin dei conti”(after all): these two expressions indicate that, at the end of the day, something was not exactly as expected or as planned.

Infine (in the end, eventually, in conclusion, lastly)

It’s an adverb that can mainly have two meanings:

- As a synonym for “alla fine”, but in a higher register.

For example:

Lo interrogarono per ore, e infine confessò tutto. (They questioned him for hours and he eventually confessed to everything)

- As a synonym of “in conclusione” (in conclusion). It is usually used to start the last paragraph of a chapter, a story or every written text with a conclusion.

For example, in a recipe, after having listed all the necessary steps to follow

Finalmente (Finally, at last)

It is an adverb with various meanings:

– It can be used as a synonym for “infine” or “alla fine”, but this use is pretty uncommon.

Example:

Da giovane ho lavorato come cameriere, poi come imbianchino e infine / alla fine / finalmente come autista. (When I was young I worked as a waiter, as a painter and lastly/eventually/finally as a driver)

In this specific case, “finalmente” is the most uncommon one.

– “Finalmente” is used to indicate that something you have been waiting for, is finally happening.

Examples:

Dopo anni di convivenza, finalmente ci siamo sposati. (After years of living together, we finally got married)

Sono mesi che sento parlare di te: finalmente ci incontriamo! (I’ve been hearing about you for months, we meet at last!)

“Finalmente” is also used alone, to express satisfaction when something is becoming true.

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