pur

even

adverb POOR Rare

Origin: From Latin purus, in the sense of 'just, merely'.

Also means

although

Usage Note

Pur (also pure) is a versatile concessive particle. As an adverb it reinforces a concession: pur sapendo la verità, non parlò ('even knowing the truth, he didn't speak'). With di, pur di means 'in order to' or 'just to' (farebbe di tutto pur di vincere — 'he'd do anything just to win'). It is the shortened form of pure used before a gerund or infinitive.

Examples

"Pur essendo stanco, continuò a lavorare."

Natural Translation

Even though he was tired, he kept working.

Literal Translation

Even being tired, he-continued to work.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

C'è vs Ci Sono: There Is/Are in Italian

C'è for one thing, ci sono for many — that's the rule. Master Italian's there is/there are with c'era, ci sarà, è vs c'è, and non c'è nessuno.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Numbers 1 to 100: Count Like a Local

Learn Italian numbers 1 to 100 by mastering 0-20, the tens, and 3 spelling rules so you can generate any number from ventuno to novantanove on demand.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Essere vs Avere: Italian Past Tense Made Simple

In the passato prossimo, use avere for most verbs and essere for movement, change, and reflexives — plus the agreement trap English speakers always miss.

June 5, 2026 5 min read