Italian expression of the day: 'Fare a meno'
Once you've started using this simple phrase, you won't be able to do without it.
Everyone has certain things they feel can't do without: morning coffee, regular access to sunshine and nature, high-speed internet...
In Italian to do without or live without is fare a meno, so it follows that to be unable to do without something is non poter fare a meno (di qualcosa).
Se non vuole aiutarci vabbè, possiamo fare a meno dei suoi soldi.
If she doesn't want to help us, fine, we can do without her money.
Sono un cuoco, non posso fare a meno di un forno nella mia cucina.
I'm a cook, I can't manage without an oven in my kitchen.
Posso fare a meno delle tue prediche.
I can live without your lectures.
You don't just use it to talk about things - if you want to tell a person you can't live without them, can't spare them, or can't get enough of them, you'll use the same phrase.
Davide ha chiesto il giorno libero, ma siamo già a corto di personale, non credo che possiamo fare a meno di lui.
Davide asked for the day off but we're already short on staff, I don't think we can spare him.
Non posso fare a meno di te.
I can't get enough of you.
If you want to simply say 'live/do without it', you can replace the thing you're referring to with the pronoun ne.
Elisa ha preso la macchina? Va bene, per oggi possiamo farne a meno.
Did Elisa take the car? All right, for today we can manage without it.
Il piano cottura non sarà riparato almeno fino a luglio, dovrete imparare a farne a meno.
The stove won't be fixed until at least July, you'll have to learn to live without it.
It's important to note, however, that farne a meno has another meaning: to help oneself/help it.
So che non dovrei arrabbiarmi con lui, ma a volte non riesco a farne a meno.
I know I shouldn't get angry with him, but sometimes I can't help it.
Non puoi proprio farne a meno, vero?
You just can't help yourself, can you?
If you want to say you can't help doing something in particular, you say non posso fare a meno di... followed by the infinitive of a verb.
Non poteva fare a meno di sentirsi dispiaciuta per lei.
She couldn't help feeling sorry for her.
Non posso fare a meno di chiedermi come sarebbe stata la mia vita se fossi rimasta.
I can't help but wonder how different my life would have been if I'd stayed.
Elvis's Can't help falling in love (with you)? In Italian that's Non posso fare a meno di innamorarmi di te.
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Everyone has certain things they feel can't do without: morning coffee, regular access to sunshine and nature, high-speed internet...
In Italian to do without or live without is fare a meno, so it follows that to be unable to do without something is non poter fare a meno (di qualcosa).
Se non vuole aiutarci vabbè, possiamo fare a meno dei suoi soldi.
If she doesn't want to help us, fine, we can do without her money.
Sono un cuoco, non posso fare a meno di un forno nella mia cucina.
I'm a cook, I can't manage without an oven in my kitchen.
Posso fare a meno delle tue prediche.
I can live without your lectures.
You don't just use it to talk about things - if you want to tell a person you can't live without them, can't spare them, or can't get enough of them, you'll use the same phrase.
Davide ha chiesto il giorno libero, ma siamo già a corto di personale, non credo che possiamo fare a meno di lui.
Davide asked for the day off but we're already short on staff, I don't think we can spare him.
Non posso fare a meno di te.
I can't get enough of you.
If you want to simply say 'live/do without it', you can replace the thing you're referring to with the pronoun ne.
Elisa ha preso la macchina? Va bene, per oggi possiamo farne a meno.
Did Elisa take the car? All right, for today we can manage without it.
Il piano cottura non sarà riparato almeno fino a luglio, dovrete imparare a farne a meno.
The stove won't be fixed until at least July, you'll have to learn to live without it.
So che non dovrei arrabbiarmi con lui, ma a volte non riesco a farne a meno.
I know I shouldn't get angry with him, but sometimes I can't help it.
Non puoi proprio farne a meno, vero?
You just can't help yourself, can you?
If you want to say you can't help doing something in particular, you say non posso fare a meno di... followed by the infinitive of a verb.
Non poteva fare a meno di sentirsi dispiaciuta per lei.
She couldn't help feeling sorry for her.
Non posso fare a meno di chiedermi come sarebbe stata la mia vita se fossi rimasta.
I can't help but wonder how different my life would have been if I'd stayed.
Elvis's Can't help falling in love (with you)? In Italian that's Non posso fare a meno di innamorarmi di te.
Do you have a favourite Italian word you'd like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.
Don't miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day by downloading our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.
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