The End: Alla Fine, Finalmente, and Infine

| Thu, 02/18/2021 - 00:22
Paper with text "Parli Italiano"

Usually, coming to the end of something is, if not sad, a bit bittersweet. But nothing has been usual about the past 12 months and I think we can all agree that the world as a whole is ready to put an end to COVID-19, sweatpants as office wear, schooling from the kitchen table, and anything made with sourdough starter. 

To talk about the end in Italian, there are three different expressions that may be confusing at first since they all use the same root - alla fine, finalmente, and infine. Despite sharing the same root of 鈥渇ine鈥 (or end), these three terms have different meanings and are rarely interchangeable so it鈥檚 important to know the difference between them and how they are used.  

Read on for a helpful overview of how to use these three ending signalers and pick up some bonus tips!

Alla fine

Translated as 鈥渁t the end鈥 or 鈥渋n the end鈥, alla fine indicates an action or event that happens last in a series of actions or events or after the passage of time.

Alla fine can be paired with a noun (in the possessive case) to specify the action or event that precedes it. 

Examples:

  • Alla fine dell鈥檃nno siamo andati a festeggiare in montagna. - At the end of the year, we went to the mountains to celebrate.
  • Non ne potevo pi霉 alla fine della cena. Ho mangiato davvero troppo. - I couldn鈥檛 stand it anymore by the end of the dinner. I really overate.

You can also use alla fine without an object when it is implied.

Examples:

  • Com鈥櫭 finita? - How did it end? (When both parties know the subject?)
  • Alla fine siamo andati a casa prima perch茅 eravamo stanchi. - At the end (of an event or action that is known to both parties), we went home early because we were tired.

Sometimes you use alla fine to indicate the final outcome of an endeavor that requires a significant amount of time or effort. Though the noun isn鈥檛 specified, it鈥檚 implied to be 鈥渢he time or effort you put in鈥.  Italians often use it to ask for an update regarding an important, long-term goal or life event:

Examples:

  • Avete comprato la casa in citt脿 alla fine? - (Did you buy that house in the city in the end?)
  • Alla fine sei riuscito ad aggiustare la moto? - (Were able to repair the motorcycle in the end?)

 

Note: Don鈥檛 confuse alla fine with alla fin fine or in fin dei conti, which mean 鈥渁ll things considered鈥 or 鈥渁fter all鈥 and indicates a summing up or taking into account that leads to a slightly unexpected or unplanned conclusion. 

Examples:

  • Ho visto il film che ha vinto l鈥橭scar ma alla fin fine non era poi cos矛 interessante. - I saw the movie that won the Oscar but it wasn鈥檛 that interesting after all.
  • In fin dei conti, non era poi cos矛 lungo il viaggio. - All things considered, the trip wasn鈥檛 really that long.

Finalmente

This adverb that means 鈥渇inally鈥 or 鈥渁t last鈥 can be used in a few ways:

Finalmente can indicate that an anticipated or expected action or event is finally happening. 

Examples:

  • Sono settimane che aspetto il pacco. Finalmente oggi 猫 arrivato! - I鈥檝e been waiting for this package to arrive for weeks. Finally it came today!
  • Dopo tanti ripensamenti, finalmente abbiamo deciso di traslocare. -  After a lot of second thoughts, we finally decided to move house.

It can also be used alone as an exclamation of satisfaction that something has come true.

Examples:

  • Abbiamo deciso di traslocare. - We decided to move house
  • Finalmente! - Finally!

Infine

Translated as 鈥渋n the end鈥, 鈥渆ventually鈥, 鈥渋n conclusion鈥, or 鈥渓astly鈥, infine has two main meanings:

Infine is most often used to indicate that a text, story, presentation, speech, or other communication is drawing to an end, and is interchangeable with in conclusione (in conclusion). 

Examples:

  • Infine, vorrei ringraziare la mia famiglia e i miei colleghi. - Lastly, I would like to thank my family and colleagues.
  • Infine, i tre fratelli decisero di tornare al loro castello. - Eventually, the three brothers decided to return to their castle.

You can also fine infine at the end of a list of steps to follow in a set of directions or a recipe: 

Examples:

  • Infine, fissa lo specchio al mobile usando gli appositi ganci. - Finally, affix the mirror to the cabinet using the special hooks. 
  • Infine, inforna il dolce a 180掳C per 60 minuti. - Finally, bake the cake at 180掳C for 60 minutes.

Synonyms

Occasionally, alla fine, finalmente, and infine can be used interchangeably:

Finalmente can be used instead of infine or alla fine, but it鈥檚 not very common.

Example:

  • Ho vissuto prima a Roma, poi a Napoli e finalmente a Palermo. - I have lived in Rome, then Naples, and finally in Palermo.

The much more common versions would be:

  • Ho vissuto prima a Roma, poi a Napoli e alla fine a Palermo. - I have lived in Rome, then Naples, and finally in Palermo.
  • Ho vissuto prima a Roma, poi a Napoli e infine a Palermo. - I have lived in Rome, then Naples, and finally in Palermo.

In formal speech, infine can substitute alla fine.

Example:

  • Bombardarono per giorni, e infine la citt脿 cadde. - They bombed for days and the city eventually fell.

In fine, we hope that you find this guide helpful to navigate your way to the end!