Signification
Admitting facts.
Contexte culturel
Italians often use 'a dire il vero' to avoid 'brutta figura' (losing face). It allows for honesty without being confrontational. In Tuscany, you might hear 'a dir la verità' more frequently, with the final 'e' of 'dire' dropped for a faster rhythm. In Italian business meetings, this phrase is used to signal a 'pivot' in negotiation or to introduce a constraint politely. On Italian social media (X/Twitter), 'A dire il vero' is often used to start a 'thread' of honest opinions or 'unpopular truths'.
The Comma is Key
Always pause slightly after saying 'A dire il vero' in speech, and always use a comma after it in writing.
Don't Overuse
If you use it in every sentence, you might sound like you're hiding something or being overly cautious.
Signification
Admitting facts.
The Comma is Key
Always pause slightly after saying 'A dire il vero' in speech, and always use a comma after it in writing.
Don't Overuse
If you use it in every sentence, you might sound like you're hiding something or being overly cautious.
The 'Softener' Effect
Use it before a 'No' to sound 50% more polite instantly.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct phrase.
______, non ho capito la lezione di oggi.
The full phrase requires the preposition 'a' and the article 'il'.
Which response is the most polite way to say you don't like a gift?
Ti piace il regalo?
'A dire il vero' softens the negative opinion, making it polite.
Match the sentence to the correct context.
A dire il vero, pensavo fossimo già d'accordo.
The phrase is used here to clarify a previous agreement.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
When to use 'A dire il vero'
Opinions
- • Food tastes
- • Movie reviews
- • Personal feelings
Corrections
- • Wrong times
- • Wrong names
- • Misunderstandings
Banque d exercices
3 exercices______, non ho capito la lezione di oggi.
The full phrase requires the preposition 'a' and the article 'il'.
Ti piace il regalo?
'A dire il vero' softens the negative opinion, making it polite.
A dire il vero, pensavo fossimo già d'accordo.
The phrase is used here to clarify a previous agreement.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsYes, they are interchangeable. 'A dire la verità' is slightly more common when you want to emphasize your sincerity.
It is neutral. You can use it in almost any situation, from a casual chat to a business meeting.
In Italian, 'vero' (true) is used here as a noun meaning 'the truth'. Nouns in Italian usually need an article.
Close, but 'In realtà' is more for correcting a fact, while 'A dire il vero' is for sharing a personal thought.
Expressions liées
a dire la verità
synonymTo tell the truth
in realtà
similarIn reality / actually
veramente
similarReally / truly
onestamente
similarHonestly
