Here’s a useful adverb to have on hand when practicing your conversational Italian: at least.
It can be used in a couple of different ways, but most commonly means ‘at least’.
We’re calling this a word rather than an expression because although ‘at least ‘ is slightly more common in contemporary Italian, it can equally be written as ‘at least ‘.
In many contexts, at least and at least are effectively synonyms. The only difference is that at least simply means ‘at least’, while at least sometimes implies a more emphatic ‘at the very least’ or ‘as a minimum’.
You could at least drive me to the station.
You could have at least accompanied me to the station.
If I had known earlier, I could at least have helped you out.
If I had known earlier I would have at least been able to give you a hand.
– IThe traffic on the road to Como was terrible.
– At least you had good weather.
– The traffic on the way to Como was terrible.
– At least you had good weather.
In other situations, however, at least takes on a different meaning, becoming ‘to say the least’:
His plans are at least adventurous.
Her plans are adventurous to say the least.
The results are worrying, at least.
The results are disturbing, to say the least.
There’s a third word that’s another synonym for ‘at least’: at least. You’ll sometimes see it separated out into three words: at least. Again, it can often be used more or less interchangeably with at least.
I’d like to take at least a week’s vacation this summer.
I want to take at least one week off this summer.
At least and at least can also both mean something like ‘at any rate’.
He would never come to see me at home, at least.
She would never come to visit me at home, in any event.
You’re much fitter than me, at least.
You’re in much better shape than me, at any rate.
None of these are to be confused with the quite different much lesswhich means ‘much less’:
I have never met Laura, much less her sister.
I’ve never met Laura, much less her sister.
He can barely say it, much less do it.
He can barely say it, much less do it.
Got all that? Now see if you can fit at least, at least and at least into at least one conversation this week.
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