Usage Note
Sfortunatamente is the standard Italian adverb for 'unfortunately', formed from sfortunato (unlucky) + -mente. It typically opens a clause (Sfortunatamente, non posso venire = Unfortunately, I can't come). A common shorter alternative in speech is purtroppo, which has the same meaning and is more frequent in everyday Italian.
Examples
"Sfortunatamente, il treno era in ritardo."
Natural Translation
Unfortunately, the train was late.
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