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invece

instead

adverb een-VEH-cheh Common
Grammar & Structure Conjunctions

Origin: Latin in vicem (in turn, in place of)

Also means

on the other hand

Usage Note

Invece introduces a contrast: io vado al cinema; lui invece resta a casa (I'm going to the cinema; he, instead, is staying home). Invece di + infinitive means 'instead of doing': invece di studiare, gioca (instead of studying, he plays). It is one of the most frequent Italian contrast markers — do not swap it with ma (but), which is weaker.

Examples

"Pensavo fosse tardi; invece era presto."

Natural Translation

I thought it was late; instead it was early.

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