If you have ever traveled to Italy, you can't have missed the ubiquitous exclamation "andiamo".
This versatile phrase allows you to convey multiple different meanings, including "let's go" and "come on". Join us for a deeper exploration if you would like to try using andiamo yourself!
Meaning
The Italian word "andiamo" is the first person plural conjugation of the verb "andare", which translates to "to go" in English.
Andiamo, as such, literally translates to "we go" or "we are going", and is used in this way in Italian. When used as an exclamation or interjection, however, andiamo also means:
- Let's go!
- Come on!
- Yay! (An expression of excitement or happiness.)
Example Usage
Readers who are just beginning to learn Italian, or who are looking for a few key phrases that they will be able to use during a vacation in Italy, will easily find multiple uses for the phrase "andiamo". You can say andiamo when:
- You're eager to go sightseeing and you're completely ready.
- You would like to tell a friend to stop dallying and come with you already.
- You're really excited about the fact that you were able to score a reservation to an exclusive restaurant. In this case, you can add an "e" before "andiamo" — "E andiamo!"
For the best effect, say andiamo in an excited voice. An exclamation point should nearly always be read into this phrase.
Origin
The Italian language belongs to the Indo-European group of languages. It will surprise nobody that Italian is a Romance language, which means that it directly evolved from the Latin language spoken in the Roman Empire, which claimed Rome (now in Italy) as its capital.
Modern standard Italian gradually evolved from local dialects spoken on the territories that are part of Italy today, and an estimated 85 million people speak Italian.
The phrase "andiamo" — meaning "we go", "let's go", or "come on" — is the first person plural of the irregular verb "andare" ("to go").
While there is considerable debate around the etymology (origins) of this verb, the most common opinion is that "andare" evolved from a combination of older verbs:
- The Latin "vadere" or "vado", meaning "to go".
- The Latin "adire" or "andeo", meaning "to approach".
However the wide range of possible meanings came to be, you can now use the Italian phrase "andiamo" not only to say "we go" or "we are going", but also to:
- Express excitement.
- Tell someone to hurry up.
- Let someone know that you're ready (as in "let's go").
- Express shock or disbelief (as in "wow, really?").
- Taunt someone.
Phrases Similar to Andiamo
If you are visiting Rome, the capital of Italy, you may want to try to adhere to its local dialect, Romanesco, instead. In Romanesco, "andiamo" can be:
- Annamo!
- 'Nnamo!
Rome's natives tend to blur consonant combinations like "nd" into double constants, like "mm", instead.
What Is the Correct Saying?
The correct phrase, "andiamo", can mean "we go", "let's go" and "come on" in Italian. The phrase also has some less common meanings, including "exciting!" (yay!) and "wow, really?".
Ways People May Say Andiamo Incorrectly
If you are a native English speaker, there are many incorrect ways in which you could pronounce "andiamo". Rather than teaching you about those, let's skip straight to the correct pronunciation:
- Stress the first and final syllables — "AN-dia-MO" — but not very heavily.
- The first syllable, "an", is pronounced similarly to the English "un".
- The second syllable, "di", rhymes with "bee" but has a slightly shorter sound.
- The third syllable, "a", has a long A sound similar to the sound you might make while screaming.
- The final syllable, "mo", is pronounced just like the "mo" in "moment".
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Andiamo
You can use the very versatile Italian phrase "andiamo" to urge someone to hurry up or to let someone know you are ready to go. You could also use andiamo to express excitement or even disbelief.
Because andiamo is often used as an exclamation, it works very well as a stand-alone phrase that you can use even if you know very little Italian.