You’ll hear about it used in such wide variety of contexts in Italy that without a primer, foreigners can easily be left wondering exactly what it translates to.
That’s because about it is a versatile word that means a number of different things in English depending on the situation you use it in and the preposition you use it with.
To start with, it can mean a firm purpose, objective, resolution, or plan.
His plan is to leave by January.
Her objective is to leave by January.
He is very stubborn in his intentions, no one can move him.
He’s very dogged in his resolutions, no one can change his mind.
What are your plans for the future?
What plans do you have for the future?
Since about it in this context is something you intend or plan to do, doing something ‘on purpose’ or deliberately is doing it purposely.
I didn’t do it on purpose!
I certainly didn’t do it on purpose!
He thinks you failed the exam on purpose in order to stay in Sara’s same class.
She thinks you failed the exam on purpose so you could stay in the same class as Sara.
Aside from this, about it can also be a topic or subject matter.
You just think about it.
She thinks of nothing else but this.
I already have some ideas about it.
I already have some ideas on the subject.
When used in this way, we can combine about it with the preposition ‘a’ to form the phrases about thismeaning ‘with regard to this’, or about …meaning ‘with regard to…’, ‘about…’, or ‘on the subject of…’.
There are some questions that might help us in this regard.
There are a few questions that might help us in this regard.
Speaking of homework, you haven’t shown me yours yet.
Speaking of homework, you still haven’t shown me yours.
I wanted to talk to you about Giovanni.
I wanted to speak with you about Giovanni.
Similarly, about it means ‘in this regard’ or ‘with regard to this’ when referring back to something that has just been discussed.
I asked you a few questions about it.
I’ve sent you a few questions in connection with this matter.
The government has a significant responsibility in this regard.
The government bears a good deal of responsibility in this respect.
Finally, we can use on purpose either to mean ‘opportunely’ or appropriately; or, conversationally, to mean ‘by the way’.
Come by the way!
You’re coming at the right time!
By the way, I’m in favor.
By the way, I think it’s a good thing.
You can call me Laura, by the way.
You can all call me Laura, by the way.
With many Italian words, you can put an ‘s’ at the beginning to turn its meaning on its head, and this holds true with about itas a spoprosito means inopportune, or inappropriate; while the noun a blunder means a blunder.
Maybe I spoke out of turn.
Perhaps I spoke out of turn.
It was a mistake to react like that.
It was a mistake to react like this.
See if you can use the word in conversation on purpose (not a nonsense!) this week.
Do you have an Italian word you’d like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.